Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Pushka]

Easier to do with a smaller population. If they've done first dose for 10% then that's ~800k. That's less than the UK has given the first dose to.

Makes sense but they do seem to have their act together because they likely have less staff to administer it etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

Im not fully across what Israel is doing, but not sure how Australia can start rolling out the Pfizer vaccine now when we have'nt received any stock yet and dont have ability to manufacture it here. We are licensed to make the oxford one, but again have we started given its not approved for use yet?

Aus only ordered 10m doses of Pfizer, so only 5m will get it and therefore not an option for me, as im not a medical medical worker or imuno compromised or elderly.

Pushka -> Due to mandatory army service in Israel they have a lot of people with field medical training, so should have many qualified to give injections.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not at all.think Taiwan and Vietnam plus several other countries in Asia whose more recent cases are escapes from quarantine as well.
And the lockdown in Tasmania was targeted at a small area.Not State wide.
I don't think you can say the lockdown in Victoria has given them a stronger economy.

Might not have given us a stronger economy, but it gave us an 'almost normal' Christmas! Friends of mine have a father in care, he was able to come home so the whole family could be together. That's priceless.

 

[Flashback]

Might not have given us a stronger economy, but it gave us an 'almost normal' Christmas! Friends of mine have a father in care, he was able to come home so the whole family could be together. That's priceless.

Not all were given an almost normal Christmas, some were expecting to have their kids at home for the first time in a decade ..... and that didn't happen.

 

[Lynda2475]

I hadn’t heard the younger cohort was prioritised - is that because they are more likely to be out and about in big groups?

Yes and i feel its unfair as it rewards risky behaviour, and forces those of us in 35-65 age who look after elderly relatives to have to continue the burden of physical distance etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

Not all were given an almost normal Christmas

Everyone in NNB missed out on seeing any family unless they lived with them. Some of my friends outside NB spent xmas alone (or as a pity invite elsewhere) as their familes lived in NB.

Even though I saw my immediate family, covid recommendations meant no hugs or kisses for the vulnerable family members.

 

[oznflfan]

I hadn’t heard the younger cohort was prioritised - is that because they are more likely to be out and about in big groups?

I do believe they will do it as fast as possible - they were talking about having us all vaccinated by October and I see Qantas is starting to take international bookings from July so light at the end of the tunnel.

I can barely see that light.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Makes sense but they do seem to have their act together because they likely have less staff to administer it etc.

They are a pretty efficient country with strong science/tech based capabilities, as long as you ignore the ultra orthodox.

 

[Toula92122]

Yes and i feel its unfair as it rewards risky behaviour, and forces those of us in 35-65 age who look after elderly relatives to have to continue the burden of physical distance etc.

I have to agree with you. I'm in the same category as you, and I can't understand the logic of vaccinating younger people when statistics show that people in older age groups appear to suffer more if they catch CV. We have discussed getting around getting pushed to the back of the queue by making a return trip to the US where money always talks and obtaining vaccination earlier if necessary.

With regards to Israel, I was reading in the NY Times the reason they have been able to go so fast is they have no shortage of vaccine as apparently they paid over what other countries were offering to be able to obtain sufficient supplies.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes Mum being elderly and immuno compromised so should be in 2nd round (after health workers in first round), but i may have to wait til 2022 based on published prioritisation.

I havent been able to hug my Mum since last Feb, i dont want to wait til 2022 (i wont put her at risk until we are both vacinated). You cant pay to jump the government queue for the free vaccine, but if companies choose to sell vaccine here outside govt program, i should be able to pay to get that.

I've never had the free government flu vaccine via medicare, ive always paid for (or employer has paid for) the quad version. And ive paid for other vaccines like HPV, yellow fever outside of Govt program, so hopefully there will be a user pay option in addition to waiting for government to provide.

Aus government has promised some of the vaccines it has purchased and has license to manufacture to pacific islands, so there is risk they start giving doses there before giving to lower priority people here. Im a bit angry young people (18-34) will be vaccinated before 35-65 year olds , so if there is a way i can get sooner i will pay to do so.

2022?

Do you have a link for any of these claims and timelines?

Much of it seems at odds with what has been indicated to date.

ie Hunt yesterday: Mr Hunt said he was pleased with the pace of the process so far, with all vaccines set to be distributed by October


As to whatever the priority queue is I would imagine that there will be a logic to it.


ie If indeed young adults are scheduled before those in middle age may be it is because they are more likely to be catch it and spread it. ie This age group are a high % of who gets it.

 

[Flashback]

2022?

Do you have a link for any of these claims and timelines?

Much of it seems at odds with what has been indicated to date.

ie Hunt yesterday: Mr Hunt said he was pleased with the pace of the process so far, with all vaccines set to be distributed by October


As to whatever the priority queue is I would imagine that there will be a logic to it.


ie If indeed young adults are scheduled before those in middle age may be it is because they are more likely to be catch it and spread it. ie This age group are a high % of who gets it.

Here's a good explanation of the UK's priority order - whether Australia will do similar or not, who knows. It sounds like no.

Who can get a Covid booster this spring and how can you book?

Those most at risk from Covid across the UK are being offered a spring booster by the NHS.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Flying mermaid]

Anyway people I would say just be patient - we are nearly there. We have trusted the scientists and doctors in Australia and it’s been a good outcome so far.

Like everyone else I want this to be over - I would like to go to my grand daughter’s first birthday party at the end of the month (40 invitees!), without worrying that I am endangering my life or Ms FM is endangering hers (she is immunocompromised as well).

 

[Lynda2475]

you have a link for any of these claims and timelines

Aus is only getting 10m doses of Pfizer vaccine, so only 5m people will get it.

The top priorities for receiving govt vaccine inAus are officially noted here: Who will get the vaccines

That list will easily exhaust 5 million people. Some portion gets wasted as once a batch is opened if not used right away it has to be discarded because of temperature requirements (so less than 5m really due to batching).

That leaves the other vaccines for rest of population, which means if I want a mRNA vaccine i definetly have to wait til 2022 when more is available.

Secondly none of the states have experience in administering mass vaccinations of the scale needed. Mr Hunt may plan to complete rollout by Oct but that means 4.1M (for 100% of population) or 2.9M (for 70% of population) vaccines given a month from March til October for first dose only (I believe all vaccine candiates need 2 shots so you can double that).

I suspect they will struggle to get through that volume (from both supply and more so roll out) and it will realistically take longer than 6 months, so very real possibility being low priority i wont get one this year, when they are overwhelmed for the Oxford one.

Only a fraction of population get a flu vaccine each year (not the 70 to 80 % we need for herd immunity for Covid-19, given how few have natural immunity) and that takes some 4 months (Mar to Jun) to get to everyone who wants one.

Trying to find a tanscript re lower priorities there were heaps of interviews with various experts months ago talking up young people before middle age because of their non compliant behaviour.

 

[Lynda2475]

Here's a good explanation of the UK's priority order - whether Australia will do similar or not, who knows. It sounds like no.

My age group and health status isnt even on that UK list. The Aus Gov link i posted covers less than UK at this stage, but likely to end up being similar i reckon.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I would be happy with either Pfizer or the Oxford one. Given they can manufacture the Oxford one here and it doesn’t have the storage constraints of the Pfizer one, it is more likely to be generally available.

as I said on another thread there is now a Covid vaccination division as part of the Department of health so hopefully they will be working on strategies for how to roll it out as quickly as possible and priority groups.

is it only a fraction of the population who get the normal flu vaccination - I thought it was quite high - will have to go and look

EDIT. Apparently the TGA processed over 17 million does of the flu vaccine for use in Australia in 2020. That’s a pretty high % of the population, although obviously will need to ramp up further to get the over 20 million we are presumably targeting.

 

[Lynda2475]

is it only a fraction of the population who get the normal flu vaccination - I thought it was quite high

I think 2020 set a record, but difference with flu is that most people have some natural immunity from past infections or past flu shots, we arent starting from almost zero like we are with Covid.

I can only find stats re doses approved not doses given.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I think 2020 set a record, but difference with flu is that most people have some natural immunity from past infections or past flu shots, we arent starting from almost zero like we are with Covid.

Absolutely but I was more looking at the fact that if they could vaccinate 17 million earlier in the year they should be able to ramp up to effectively do 40 million. (20 million x 2 doses). I would think they are going to pour resources into it.

 

[Lynda2475]

17million flu vaccines were approved by TGA but how many people actually got a jab? Also flu vaccine doesnt need ultra low temperature storage, so can be distributed more easily, as oxford one can.

Fauci was saying the mRNA vaccines are best placed to handle virus mutations, which is why i favour them at this stage.

A good deal of flu vaccines are administered by private schemes (at work places, pharmacies and non bulk bill GPs), we dont typically rely on health departments to do heavy lifting, so excuse my scepticism re anything governemt run, ive spent my life avoiding the public health system.

 

[Flying mermaid]

17million flu vaccines were approved by TGA but how many people actually got a jab? Also flu vaccine doesnt need ultra low temperature storage, so can be distributed more easily, as oxford one can.

Fauci was saying the mRNA vaccines are best placed to handle virus mutations, which is why i favour them at this stage.

Yes I couldn’t find any actual stats on how many had the jab, but quite a few of the states health departments were saying they had record uptakes this year.

so many unanswered questions as yet with the vaccines - still don’t know how long they remain effective, even without new strains.

 

[Tiki]

Dumb question:

Jobkeeper is winding down and will end in March.
Vaccine roll out begins in March and will require lots of people to work as vaccinators, admin, people to manage appointments, etc.

Why don't they train these people to work in the vaccine program and thereby make it run faster and smoother? Surely with a 2 month lead sufficient training could be done for support staff and have one real doctor onsite to manage and problems that occur?