The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[lovetravellingoz]

they only bought 3 vaccines, one of which didn't work,

There are agreements in place for more than those 3. There is information on this at Australia’s vaccine agreements

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Later this month the CSL manufactured doses will start to become available.

And once it is there are plans in place for delivery via GP Clinics, plus also at large scale vaccination facilities which are not yet all operating (In Vic for example 2 of these larger facilities only started this week, and the even bigger ones will not start till there are does available).

How good those plans are of course remains to be seen.

 

[jakeseven7]

Its a problem of supply and logistics not delivery of the actual innoculation.

The 4,500 GP clinics are literally waiting for the vaccine to start mass jabbing people, they've done it before, millions and millions of flu doses in a few short weeks.

The government has dropped the ball on getting the vaccine to them in high enough quantities to execute, pure and simple.

 

[drron]

Wrong there were 4 vaccines bought by the Government of which one fell over.We have Pfizer,AZ and Novavax.We have over 50000 doses of the AZ and Novavax vaccines.
As to Novavax they have just preleased results of their Phase 3 trials and results are good.

Novavax Reports Its COVID-19 Vaccine is 96% Efficacious, Based on Phase 3 Trial Results

The company’s vaccine relies on a unique technology that involves another virus and insect cells

www.yahoo.com

We also have a Covax committent but any we receive from that is probably going to PNG and Pacific islands.

Why no moderna and J&J vaccines.The early releases when we first bought vaccines were that both companies would not engage in negotiations with the Government.On top of that Moderna is an mRNA vaccine just like Pfizer.And Novavax is a protein vaccine similiar to J&J.So 3 vaccines available for us and each a different type of vaccine.I would say that is pretty good.And just over 120 million doses purchased.

As an aside as of the end of 2019 there were only 19 countries that manufactured the flu vaccine.The total production capacity was 750 million doses a year.Now say either the Vietnam or Indonesian H5N1 flu viruses mutated to a pandemic type virus that we would face another Covid situation as none of the current flu vaccines is very effective against H5N1 vaccines.

Influenza pandemic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[auriga]

Strange that over 50M doses ordered for Novavax and AZ, yet only 10M Pfizer.
That is not exactly covering all bases.

 

[mviy]

Strange that over 50M doses ordered for Novavax and AZ, yet only 10M Pfizer.
That is not exactly covering all bases.

Of those three Pfizer is the most difficult to distribute and we won't have the capability to make it in Australia for years. To distribute it they would need to install expensive fridges to store the Pfizer vaccine at extremely cold temperatures. That makes it very difficult to scale up.

Whereas the AZ vaccine is being made here and can be stored in fridges already in place at GP clinics.

The government clearly decided that a mass rollout of Pfizer as the main vaccine would only be considered as a last resort if the other kinds of vaccine proved to be ineffective.

 

[Pushka]

Information for next phase

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-program-phase-1b.pptx

 

[mviy]

CSL can produce the AZ and Novavax vaccines but probably not both at the same time.

 

[drron]

Strange that over 50M doses ordered for Novavax and AZ, yet only 10M Pfizer.
That is not exactly covering all bases.

Actually it is 20 million Pfizer.more ordered in January.
The problem with delivery is a world wide problem and not unique to Australia.

The first 10 million Pfizer does were to be delivered at 1 million doses per month and completed by december.
Actual delivery was late and only at a rate of 80000 per week-ie one third of the promise.

The first 3.8 million AZ doses were to be imported and be here by the end of February.
Not sure of actual delivery numbers but way down.

Then was the CSL manufactured AZ with 1 million doses a month due to start in March.
Obviously late as there would be a very positive PR blitz when that starts.

 

[mviy]

Information for next phase

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-program-phase-1b.pptx

So will they be doing all 1b people simultaneously or starting with sub groups first? e.g. will people over 70 be done after the over 80s or at the same time?

 

[Pushka]

So will they be doing all 1b people simultaneously or starting with sub groups first? e.g. will people over 70 be done after the over 80s or at the same time?

Hopefully more news soon as they move towards that group. Will be done by appointment online apparently.

 

[mviy]

Personally I'm waiting for 2b, but obviously have friends and family in earlier groups. I'm keen to get my second jab in time to travel overseas Nov/Dec if that is allowed by then.

Will be done by appointment online apparently.

That could be problematic with the elderly. There are a number of elderly people, especially >90s who would not be good at using technology, I suspect.

 

[levelnine]

Internationally very few people are watching, or caring about what Australia is doing, so I'd hardly say it's an international embarrassment. Australia earned a lot of respect by the way in which the virus was controlled in the first place. All they see is a country doesn't have the urgent compelling human health need to have rolled the vaccine at "warp speed", unlike just about everywhere else, but have started doing it. Hardly an embarrassment!

A slew of countries where the virus hasn't gone completely out of control are in a similar state, like NZ, Japan and even South Korea isn't hugely different to Australia compared to US, UK, or even Europe.

Strongly disagree. By international embarrassment, I mean it completely erodes the Australian Government's ability to stand up to the public and say that Australia has performed well by international standards and that the country should be envy of the world, as they often do.

It is all well and good to shut the border (the Government is excellent at that), but when it came to actually delivering something of substance, it has failed massively. Already rolling back statements made a mere month and a half ago.

The United States, the international embarrassment of the containment stage, has delivered 100m doses in 60 days and is on track to have all adults vaccinated by 1 May. Meanwhile we are looking at some time in 2022. So your comparison could not be more incorrect.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Moderna is the most expensive of the vaccines and probably the tightest in supply as well. Unsurprising we didn't sign for that one

 

[OATEK]

Strongly disagree. By international embarrassment, I mean it completely erodes the Australian Government's ability to stand up to the public and say that Australia has performed well by international standards and that the country should be envy of the world, as they often do.

It is all well and good to shut the border (the Government is excellent at that), but when it came to actually delivering something of substance, it has failed massively. Already rolling back statements made a mere month and a half ago.

The United States, the international embarrassment of the containment stage, has delivered 100m doses in 60 days and is on track to have all adults vaccinated by 1 May. Meanwhile we are looking at some time in 2022. So your comparison could not be more incorrect.

Strongly disagree - I doubt there is any international embarrassment coming our way at present. I notice the French government has decided we can enter without quarantine; they don't seem fussed by our vaccine rollout rate.

Those of us who either have family overseas and/or are travel junkies (eg myself on both counts) want to see access to travel asap. But when I talk to friends, neighbours, few are in any rush, most comfortable with 2022.

EDIT: to clarify.

 

[Pushka]

Personally I'm waiting for 2b, but obviously have friends and family in earlier groups. I'm keen to get my second jab in time to travel overseas Nov/Dec if that is allowed by then.


That could be problematic with the elderly. There are a number of elderly people, especially >90s who would not be good at using technology, I suspect.

Im sure GP’s will sort it for them.

But when I talk to friends, neighbours, few are in any rush, most comfortable with 2022.

My friends are the same. But only the ones without close family overseas. Makes a big difference to thoughts of comfort and safety.

 

[OATEK]

Im sure GP’s will sort it for them.



My friends are the same. But only the ones without close family overseas. Makes a big difference to thoughts of comfort and safety.

Yes, your son, my daughter and granddaughter being in UK it brings the need for travel to resume into sharp focus. I want the vaccine roll out to enable travel for family reunion at this point in time.

 

[Toula92122]

Strongly disagree. By international embarrassment, I mean it completely erodes the Australian Government's ability to stand up to the public and say that Australia has performed well by international standards and that the country should be envy of the world, as they often do.

I agree totally with what you are saying, but based on my observations I believe the general Australian population to be so apathetic that they wouldn't notice. They can read the media headlines which constantly tout the Govt BS on vax deadlines without reading any further and pat themselves on the back how great we are doing and we are the envy of the world. People will be too busy booking that cheap flight to Cairns forgetting they will get ripped off with outrageous rental car costs and substandard overpriced accommodation.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is this where I come and whinge about what a cough job the Federal goverment is doing?

Sigh. If you really must and if it makes you feel better, sure have a rant that includes so much nonsense

Strange that over 50M doses ordered for Novavax and AZ, yet only 10M Pfizer.
That is not exactly covering all bases.

If you add another 10 mill Pfizer as you should, and consider Australian population abt 25 mill, then all bases are covered more than twice over . More so if you consider those who won’t get it became of age, pregnancy or personal inclination.

Maybe you want everyone to be done 4 times?

 

[RooFlyer]

Yesterday was so disappointing, rather than any action trying to fix things (eg. by trying to belatedly buy another vaccine) we just got a shrug of the shoulders and have a cheap flight to Broome, why don't you.

Yeah.

“ QUICK! get the credit card warm, we want to order 20 mill doses of J&J. What do you mean, it won’t be delivered to mid next year? Why can’t it be here tomorrow!!?? I have a European Union ban to overcome now! Surely everything just happens like magic?”