The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Chalkie]

What is the 'bound' of approach that you think ATAGI has over-stepped in its preferencing (for certain age groups) mRNA over AZ?

See: A mere technical advisor

 

[RooFlyer]

See: A mere technical advisor

But that merely says much the same thing:

Nothing that ATAGI says binds anyone at all as a matter of law. ATAGI is, according to its terms of reference and statement of strategic intent, merely a technical advisory body to the Minister of Health. If a state wishes to continue to administer AZ to those willing to take it, the state may continue to do so.

ATAGI has overstepped its terms of reference, and the Federal government took no corrective action (eg, by making a statement clarifying ATAGI's role and admonishing it for overstepping its role).

... made in the context of a story where Victoria may ignore ATAGI's advice.

So, has ATAGI presumed to have issued something like a binding order?

 

[Chalkie]

But that merely says much the same thing:


... made in the context of a story where Victoria may ignore ATAGI's advice.

So, has ATAGI presumed to have issued something like a binding order?

ATAGI has no power to issue any binding orders. Its terms of reference merely provide that it provide technical advice to the Minister for Health, who may ignore it or take it into account in making policy and delivering leadership. In particular, anything ATAGI says does not bind the states, which may decide to deliver a TGA (provisionally) approved vaccine to residents who wish to do the responsible thing to protect themselves and others by being immunised as soon as possible with a safe and effective vaccine.

However, the Federal government has treated the non-binding ATAGI advice as gospel and there is no evidence that the Minister applied any critical analysis to the ATAGI advice. The inference I draw is that ATAGI has become politicised. But there will be no way of knowing whether that's the case unless a member of ATAGI decides to break ranks.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Dr Chant thinks they need 80% of NSW vaccinated to avoid future lockdowns

 

[Pushka]

Dr Chant thinks they need 80% of NSW vaccinated to avoid future lockdowns

80% is the target for the Delta variant.

 

[RooFlyer]

ATAGI has no power to issue any binding orders. Its terms of reference merely provide that it provide technical advice to the Minister for Health, who may ignore it or take it into account in making policy and delivering leadership. In particular, anything ATAGI says does not bind the states, which may decide to deliver a TGA (provisionally) approved vaccine to residents who wish to do the responsible thing to protect themselves and others by being immunised as soon as possible with a safe and effective vaccine.

So far, in furious agreement.

However, the Federal government has treated the non-binding ATAGI advice as gospel and there is no evidence that the Minister applied any critical analysis to the ATAGI advice. The inference I draw is that ATAGI has become politicised. But there will be no way of knowing whether that's the case unless a member of ATAGI decides to break ranks.

So thats nothing to do with ATAGI 'overstepping its bounds' but rather the government sticking rigidly to its advice. I can't see a fault with either ATAGI or the Feds. If the Feds picked and chose what ATAGI advice they followed, that may be a problem, but in the first quote above, you say that a Minister for Health may may ignore it or take it into account. Colour me confused.

 

[JB expat]

Dr Chant thinks they need 80% of NSW vaccinated to avoid future lockdowns

I thought that WHO recommended 70% but yes, it is a high percent which is why it is so important that everyone get one when eligible (when there is a supply). There are those who cannot get vaccinated and also children cannot get vaccinated right now - they need “space” in the unvaccinated 20-30% that still allows for herd immunity.

 

[kpc]

My +1 tells me a +ve case visited the Westmead vaccine centre last week and all the vaccine nurses there are at home in isolation for 14 days... so every ward has to contribute a nurse to give the vaccine...when will all this end??

 

[Must...Fly!]

My +1 tells me a +ve case visited the Westmead vaccine centre last week and all the vaccine nurses there are at home in isolation for 14 days... so every ward has to contribute a nurse to give the vaccine...when will all this end??

Well that makes some sense, regrettably, as those coming are likely not vaccinated and given the eligibility criteria, at a higher risk due to age if not other factors.

 

[Flying mermaid]

My +1 tells me a +ve case visited the Westmead vaccine centre last week and all the vaccine nurses there are at home in isolation for 14 days... so every ward has to contribute a nurse to give the vaccine...when will all this end??

When everyone who is eligible gets a vaccine. Look at Friday’s figures - way down on Monday to Thursday and it’s like that every week. No idea why but my guess is people don’t want their weekends disrupted by potential side effects. We need to get over that and get vaccinated as fast as possible instead of listening to social media cough or agonising about minuscule side effects

 

[mviy]

Hmmm maybe I should head to vaccination hubs on a Friday afternoon and see what happens.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

68,715 doss injected on Saturday 26 June. Higher than the last two Saturdays

 

[Flying mermaid]

Hmmm maybe I should head to vaccination hubs on a Friday afternoon and see what happens.

Why not - I would like to see everyone fighting to the death to get a vaccine - it appears we only value what we can’t have

 

[mviy]

Why not - I would like to see everyone fighting to the death to get a vaccine - it appears we only value what we can’t have

The problem is though that the website says that they're not taking walk-ins even for those who are eligible atm here in Vic so it seems unlikely but maybe I'll give it a try anyway.

 

[Flying mermaid]

The problem is though that the website says that they're not taking walk-ins even for those who are eligible atm here in Vic so it seems unlikely but maybe I'll give it a try anyway.

Our experience in Canberra is that the official message is very different to what the nurses do. At the same time the Health Minister here was saying not to phone and book appointments as it was for front line workers only, we phoned and were told we could come in that afternoon, as they had heaps of empty appointments. Of course that was for AZ, so it might be different with Pfizer, but doesn’t hurt to try……

 

[Batterytraveller]

From Minister Hunt’s presser


Hunt is asked whether AstraZeneca supplies should be opened up to younger people to take it if they wish to.

He says: “AstraZeneca is recommended at 60 years and over, and under 59 not recommended and the situation is that in particular, Pfizer is the preferred vaccine and there is Moderna and Novavax potentially coming on board.

“At this stage, no change in the advice.”

This really infuriates me, if you are under 60 and want to make an informed choice to take AZ then you should be able to. Open it up to anyone who is willing and get the numbers up.

 

[Must...Fly!]

This really infuriates me, if you are under 60 and want to make an informed choice to take AZ then you should be able to. Open it up to anyone who is willing and get the numbers up.

Absolutely.

Last I checked, the federal government provides warnings on alcohol and tobacco products but happily allows citizens to make an informed decision.

How we're not doing the same for a life saving vaccine is beyond me.

 

[jakeseven7]

From Minister Hunt’s presser


Hunt is asked whether AstraZeneca supplies should be opened up to younger people to take it if they wish to.

He says: “AstraZeneca is recommended at 60 years and over, and under 59 not recommended and the situation is that in particular, Pfizer is the preferred vaccine and there is Moderna and Novavax potentially coming on board.

“At this stage, no change in the advice.”

This really infuriates me, if you are under 60 and want to make an informed choice to take AZ then you should be able to. Open it up to anyone who is willing and get the numbers up.

Exactly.

ATAGI and the Feds have just been a waste of space in this area.

Worse even, they systematically destroyed our chance to vaccinate quickly our country and avoid / minimise precisely the pain we now find ourselves in.

ATAGI need to urgently revisit their enhancement of AZ guidelines (we know it was not a consensus agreement either with VIC threatening to go rogue and Dr Chant also supportive).

 

[mviy]

ATAGI need to urgently revisit their enhancement of AZ guidelines (we know it was not a consensus agreement either with VIC threatening to go rogue and Dr Chant also supportive).

A lot of the damage has already been done though from this change. I would be surprised if they revisited the enhancement unless the outbreaks get a lot worse.

 

[Must...Fly!]

A lot of the damage has already been done though from this change. I would be surprised if they revisited the enhancement unless the outbreaks get a lot worse.

I would agree that the damage is done, but if there is say 500,000 people out there who are happy to accept whatever risk exists with the AZ vaccine and have it now, that is surely a better place to be than having them without vaccination. Given how few cases around the country lead to disastrous outcomes