The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[lovetravellingoz]

Interestingly the Dr who received the first AZ dose (in Australia) doesnt seem to be front line in risk areas but has an auto immune disease. Psoriatic arthritis. The issue of the vaccines with people with auto immune diseases is a hot topic in SA, dont know about interstate, mainly because everyone on treatment for systemic autoimmune diseases is on DMARDs which try to reduce the impact of the immune system, leaving people immunocompromised. Hence such people are next in line to receive the vaccination. Which is where I fit.

Plus in a small place like Murray Bridge there is probably a logistic sense to perhaps do more than just the targeted category to minimise how man times they have to come back to eventually vaccinate everyone.

 

[Pushka]

I have not seen it, but in Australia no one has had there second dose yet. So in Australia they will be same graph till about day 21/22.

So being some time I assume that was an overseas graph.

UK will be different to other countries as they decided to delay the second jab so that more people and in particular the elderly, gained some protection.

But eventually 2 doses per person. Though some doses will be wasted.

It was definitely Australia with a state by state breakdown of the number of doses administered per head of population. So while SA looked very slow to take up, the percentage of people vaccinated was comparable to many of the other states. It will change each day as states continue to administer the vaccine at different rates.

 

[Lynda2475]

Under current CSL arrangement we have a single point of local supply of a single vaccine type. CSL have said they have ability to make AZ and Novavax but can't do more than one type at a time (some chatter they should be prepared to switch to Novavax if data continues to show it maybe more effective than AZ).

The other supply contracts Aus has are all manufactured in Europe so susceptible to EU blocks.

I think long term there is sufficient market for 2 vaccine manufacturers to have facilities in Australia to produce all our local vaccine needs (not just covid). I think those 2 need to be in different states and cover different technologies, to secure local supply long term.

I didn't state we should spin up short term capability then cease. There is a huge opportunity to supply the region, there will be other pandemics, other vaccine innovations.

China and India are building huge markets for vaccines, and unlike other manufacturing industries this is one we can compete in because it isn't contingent on slave labour.

The pandemic has highlighted where Australia is overly reliant on imports, there is an opportunity to do better.

It's not unreasonable to suggest more can be done to remove risk and build better capability in Australia.

 

[Lynda2475]

Pushka I have seen the chart you mentioned, pretty sure on ABC somewhere. Atm it showed no second doses, will see if I can find it again tonight too hard from phone.

 

[Pushka]

Pushka I have seen the chart you mentioned, pretty sure on ABC somewhere. Atm it showed no second doses, will see if I can find it again tonight too hard from

thankyou. The chart would only show first doses and I'd expect it to be updated every day. It just helps to get a different data point than just the absolute number of doses that don't take into account the smaller populations of smaller states. I'd hope second doses just happen!

 

[dajop]

It was definitely Australia with a state by state breakdown of the number of doses administered per head of population. So while SA looked very slow to take up, the percentage of people vaccinated was comparable to many of the other states. It will change each day as states continue to administer the vaccine at different rates.

Based on the COVID live figures and ABS population stats here is the current rate per 1000 people:

NSW	2.1​
Victoria	1.6​
Queensland	1.3​
WA	2.1​
SA	1.7​
Tasmania	4.3​
ACT	4.1​
NT	7.5​
AUSTRALIA	1.90​

 

[Pushka]

Based on the COVID live figures and ABS population stats here is the current rate per 1000 people:

NSW	2.1​
Victoria	1.6​
Queensland	1.3​
WA	2.1​
SA	1.7​
Tasmania	4.3​
ACT	4.1​
NT	7.5​
AUSTRALIA	1.90​

That's it! Thankyou.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The chart would only show first doses and I'd expect it to be updated every day. It just helps to get a different data point than just the absolute number of doses that don't take into account the smaller populations of smaller states. I'd hope second doses just happen!

Here you go. Pick your preferred format. I have included doses /100 people, as well as total doses per state.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Under current CSL arrangement we have a single point of local supply of a single vaccine type. CSL have said they have ability to make AZ and Novavax but can't do more than one type at a time (some chatter they should be prepared to switch to Novavax if data continues to show it maybe more effective than AZ).

The other supply contracts Aus has are all manufactured in Europe so susceptible to EU blocks.

I think long term there is sufficient market for 2 vaccine manufacturers to have facilities in Australia to produce all our local vaccine needs (not just covid). I think those 2 need to be in different states and cover different technologies, to secure local supply long term.

I didn't state we should spin up short term capability then cease. There is a huge opportunity to supply the region, there will be other pandemics, other vaccine innovations.

China and India are building huge markets for vaccines, and unlike other manufacturing industries this is one we can compete in because it isn't contingent on slave labour.

The pandemic has highlighted where Australia is overly reliant on imports, there is an opportunity to do better.

It's not unreasonable to suggest more can be done to remove risk and build better capability in Australia.

Seqirus (CSL) is Australia's one and only vaccine manufacturer with a plant here and two overseas.

We were fortunate that they were established here and so they have been able to take onboard production.

Unless the Government underwrites production, which it shouldn't beyond reasonable levels there is a limit to how many things a population of 25 million can make.

It is simply not viable for us to do do it all. Some things we can, and some things we cannot. And even less viable for the government to make it viable in all circumstances. The government at the end of the day is funded by us the taxpayers, individuals and business.

With vaccines. manufacturers need ongoing products and not just a CV19 vaccine. Seqirus has its Flu vaccines, Q Fever (the worlds only supplier) and Anti-venoms.

But yes greater diversity in supply chains is vital. For some things like face masks it is easier, for other like vaccines it is not so easy. For our CV19 Vaccines the government has wisely sought diversity in the supply chain.

Having said that I doubt tvs, laptops etc will be manufactured again in Australia anytime soon.

 

[Lynda2475]

@Pushka bookmark this article Charting the jab: Australia misses the target in first week of COVID-19 vaccine rollout the charts in it are updated daily and it has world wide first and second dose charts.

 

[Pushka]

@Pushka bookmark this article Charting the jab: Australia misses the target in first week of COVID-19 vaccine rollout the charts in it are updated daily and it has world wide first and second dose charts.

That's excellent. Thankyou.

 

[jakeseven7]

Primary Care Clinics have been informed how many AZ doses they are getting in first week between 50/400 in first week.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

With Australia's population being 25.36 million that would be 50.72 million doses if all are 2 dose vaccines. Not all Australians will get vaccinated either by choice or being unable to.

One unknown is how long the various vaccine's will provide protection for.

 

[Seat0B]

The EU and its constituent countries frequently come up with 'holier than thou' pronouncements and policies. I shall remember their vaccine nationalism next time they try that on.

Given Australia is not in an emergency situation, and in fact it seems like the blocked shipment was not even in the roll-out schedule, I wonder if the Italian government simply asked Australia if they wouldn't mind forgoing the shipment because of the situation in Italy, whether we would have generously said yes (knowing that it could be blocked anyway). But no, the Italians just did a smash and grab.

Yes I thought this too - I’m fairly sure that if they had just asked, we would probably have said yes.

 

[RooFlyer]

With Australia's population being 25.36 million that would be 50.72 million doses if all are 2 dose vaccines. Not all Australians will get vaccinated either by choice or being unable to.

One unknown is how long the various vaccine's will provide protection for.

Plus, I think the COVAX stuff are for other countries, so 'delivery' I guess will be elsewhere. And I think lot of our notional surplus is destined for the Pacific.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Plus, I think the COVAX stuff are for other countries, so 'delivery' I guess will be elsewhere. And I think lot of our notional surplus is destined for the Pacific.

Yes Australia is also supporting 94 lower-income countries, but as per the table in my post above 25 million doses are reserved for Australians

Australia’s commitments to the COVAX Facility​

The Australian Government has made 2 financial commitments to Gavi’s COVAX Facility for the supply of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines:​

​

• An upfront payment of $123.2 million to allow the purchase of over 25,000,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Australian population. This would be sufficient for 50 percent of the population to receive a 2 dose regimen.
• A further $80 million to support vaccine access for up to 94 lower-income countries through the Facility’s Advanced Market Commitment.

Your can read more detail if interested at Australia’s vaccine agreements


If the COVAX doses are in the end not required then yes I would imagine Australia would donate them as well.

But equally if some major medical problem emerges with AZ or Pfizer vaccine, or if the Melbourne plant catches fire etc then we have a back up plan. Or it may be that one of the COVAX candidates is much better for particular a particular cohort such as the very young etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

Covax is a WHO program and not a different vaccine, to date all doses distributed via Covax have been oxford az. It is a safe bet Australia's covax doses will be donated, as under covax which would be prioritised very low on the distribution list.

 

[Lynda2475]

On ABCs The Vaccine last night Dr Norman Swan was saying Italy blocking 250k doses of AZ wasnt a worry because of CSL but that if EU block any of our Pfizer it will leave our front line defences lacking. He didnt say why he thought it more important that HQ and medical staff get Pfizer over AZ in the bit that i heard, but assume its because of superior efficacy?

He also said that currently NSW is the only state vaccinating household members of HQ workers under phase 1a. Stating that this is needed as greatest risk to community has been and will continue to be workers who deal directly with overseas arrivals bringing covid home from work and infecting the people they live with.

 

[qaz]

So, the importation of more AstraZenica is a no-go at this stage. Those doses would have been very useful here.

Edit: I hope that scomo is working the phones to fix this issue.

sorry if it's old news, but who knew that the global CEO of AZ is based in Sydney?

‘Australia is my country’: AstraZeneca chief pushed for local vaccine production

The global head of pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca personally worked to ensure its Oxford University coronavirus vaccine would be made locally because he says Australia is “my country”.

www.smh.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Update on Vic Vaccinations from yesterday's DHHS Report

Update: Vaccinations​

A total of 2,262 COVID-19 vaccination doses were administered yesterday at hospital vaccination hubs across Victoria.​

​

This brings the total number of vaccine doses administered in Victoria since the program started on Monday 22 February to 10,907.​

​

The first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have started to arrive at Victoria’s hospital vaccination hubs, with 50,800 doses provided by the Commonwealth initially.​

​

As part of a staged approach, Victorian health services will start administering this safe, effective and free vaccine from the beginning of next week.​

​

More details will be provided shortly as arrangements with the Commonwealth are finalised.​

So the AZ rollout will commence in Vic next week. This should see the vaccination numbers per day jump up.

Current numbers (Pfizer) seem to have plateaued at about 2000 per day.

• As of today that is almost 13,000 vaccinations in the Vic public program after 12 injection days. Plus the Federally managed aged care and disability vaccinations (presumably 5,000 odd of the 20,000 nationally), and which come through the Victorian managed storage facilities (mainly if not totally Monash Clayton) as there is no dedicated Federally run storage facility in Vic.
• So if the 2000 pace is maintained. At day 28 that will be about 45,000 doses plus the Federally delivered doses (presumably about 13,000 by then). If so that would be about 58,000 doses vaccinated via the Vic storage facility in the first 4 weeks. Original quota announced on 3rd Feb was upto 59,000 doses to be delivered to the Vic storage hub in the first 4 weeks