The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Lynda2475]

NSW Health administered its highest-ever number of vaccines in one day, giving 13,588 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 5,163 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There's a big difference between 40-49 year-olds going to hubs and taking Pfizer out to individual aged care facilities and doing vaccinations there. The government still needs to ensure the rest of the rollout progresses whilst vaccinating those in the highest risk categories or the rollout would take months longer than it needs to. Also 40 to 49 year olds are one key demographic who would have parents in aged care (next most likely to have parents in aged care after the younger 50+ cohort). If you had kids in your 30s you'd be in your 70s or 80s when your kids are in their 40s. So indirectly vaccinating 40 to 49 year olds is going to help protect those in aged care.

It is not that difficult for a vaccination team to take Pfizer to an age care or disability care facility. You are only talking of say 50-200 people at a time for most facilities.

My disabled bother is 5 minutes drive from the Monash Storage Hub (only done this week as was everyone else in the facility) and my 83 year old MIL with a number of health issues only 15 minutes drive, also only vaccinated recently.

My point is that the Feds had the supply, and ample time, to vaccinate every residential age and disability care resident in Australia by now with two doses but chose not too.

So the Feds have also thus chosen to allow low risk people to be vaccinated before those most at risk.

So while yes everyone needs to be vaccinated in a timely way, and yes all the distribution channels need to be operational in parallel, the Feds have dropped the ball with respect to vaccinating Residents in Age and Disability Care.

Some in this category are still yet to get their first dose.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Doesn't seem feasible that number of people in aged care in NSW fell by almost 15% in 1 year. The population is getting older not younger, if there was a mass exodus of people from aged care there should have been media coverage.

The next sentence of my post that you quoted:

But yes sources may be different. However both clearly show that we are still way off all aged care residents being fully vaccinated.​

Though the facilities I personally know of all have vacancies at present, but did not 2 years ago, Probably as less people are choosing to enter such facilities since the pandemic started.

 

[drron]

Certainly in Northern Tasmania several were taken out of aged care by concerned relatives.They have a high chance of being admitted to hospital.The patient then in some cases I know refuse to go back into an aged care facility.Part of the cause of bed block which is occurring all around Australia.

 

[mviy]

It is not that difficult for a vaccination team to take Pfizer to an age care or disability care facility. You are only talking of say 50-200 people at a time for most facilities.

But with many facilities to visit there's only so many they can visit a day. There's also a lot of planning involved. You need the aged care home to get informed ahead of time so that they can be prepared. When we weren't in lockdown there were things like residents being taken out for the day etc. (obviously on vaccination day that wouldn't be good), time needs to be provided for residents to reschedule other medical appointments etc., allowances made for flu vaccine needing to be taken 14 days before or after the COVID shot etc.

Where possible it's important to avoid residents being missed when the aged care facility is visited or the team will need to go back extra times to the facility slowing things down.

 

[Flying mermaid]

And the records keep falling Nearly 125,000 vaccinations yesterday. A weekly total of 559,000 and we have hit the 4 million mark as well.

 

[Lynda2475]

several were taken out of aged care by concerned relatives

I don't doubt this, its whether that was 15% that doesn't gel.

 

[Lynda2475]

Hunt's Aged Care statistic of 98% from yesterday doesn't seem to stack up. He can only have been talking about first aged care doses.

I know we don't have the disability numbers, but if I just use the two different aged care numbers and the commonwealth released vaccination figures, cant get above 90% nationally..

It would appear that Tas, NT and ACT are complete (the > 100% allows for disability) and maybe Qld. But a long way to go in Vic, NSW and SA.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But with many facilities to visit there's only so many they can visit a day. There's also a lot of planning involved. You need the aged care home to get informed ahead of time so that they can be prepared. When we weren't in lockdown there were things like residents being taken out for the day etc. (obviously on vaccination day that wouldn't be good), time needs to be provided for residents to reschedule other medical appointments etc., allowances made for flu vaccine needing to be taken 14 days before or after the COVID shot etc.

Where possible it's important to avoid residents being missed when the aged care facility is visited or the team will need to go back extra times to the facility slowing things down.

Agree with most of this, except for the fact that ample time has occurred for it all to have been accomplished. Also as resident know in advance of the vaccination day they simply stay in for that day.

The facilities I am aware of for example do this every year with the Flu Vaccinations. Though yes obviously CV19 is more complex, but mainly for the vaccinators than the facility.

Some residents will always be missed due a variety of reasons including unexpected illness, being hospitalised etc. So it could be endless if you try and wait for 100% availability. However with such residents they could be either taken to a hub, or a roving nurse could do mop-up visits for these few at various facilities in a day.


Anyway we can just agree to disagree. I am probably biased as my brother had to wait till this week to get his first dose.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vaccinations reported today 28th May (for 27th May):

 

[Lynda2475]

So mass vac centres out performed GPs in Vic yesterday, the tide is turning. Expect to see the same in NSW once the rest of the NSW centres are taking public bookings.

 

[drron]

Another effect of the Melbourne outbreak.yesterday as well as closing the border to Victoria the Government opened a wait list for their Pfizer hubs here in Tassie.Closed again as already 1300 on the list.Fear is good.

 

[Lynda2475]

However NSW and Qld opened wait lists for Pfizer hubs before this outbreak and saw similar high registration numbers.

A lot of young people have been eager to get Pfizer. Fear may have motivated some, but a lot would have signed up anyway. There is less hesitancy re Pfizer than AZ.

 

[drron]

Though I know of one fellow who is under 30 who had his first shot of AZ in WA in early March as a health care worker.Now in Tas and the hospital will only supply Pfizer and wants him to have 2 doses.
Problem is clots with AZ happen after the first dose predominantly and he is fearful of the myocarditis with Pfizer which has been observed in young men with the only fatalities being between 18 and 30.
We are all different.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Though I know of one fellow who is under 30 who had his first shot of AZ in WA in early March as a health care worker.Now in Tas and the hospital will only supply Pfizer and wants him to have 2 doses.
Problem is clots with AZ happen after the first dose predominantly and he is fearful of the myocarditis with Pfizer which has been observed in young men with the only fatalities being between 18 and 30.
We are all different.

How bizarre.

Would a federal clinic in TAS would have a problem with this?

Alternatively a "vaccine run" to Sydney would surely be worthwhile (and Melbourne if opened). I know VIC will give AZ to anyone under 50 with a signing of release (and AFAIK NSW the same?)

 

[OATEK]

However NSW and Qld opened wait lists for Pfizer hubs before this outbreak and saw similar high registration numbers.

A lot of young people have been eager to get Pfizer. Fear may have motivated some, but a lot would have signed up anyway. There is less hesitancy re Pfizer than AZ.

Here's a twist on the vaccination hubs: Live breaking news: Melbourne lockdown, Australia Covid-19 news, new cases, updates

"A Melbourne vaccine centre has joined the list of Tier 1 exposure sites in the state, after an infectious person attended the venue last Saturday."

 

[mviy]

Though the infectious person went to the vaccine centre for a flu jab, not a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

[drron]

How bizarre.

Would a federal clinic in TAS would have a problem with this?

Alternatively a "vaccine run" to Sydney would surely be worthwhile (and Melbourne if opened). I know VIC will give AZ to anyone under 50 with a signing of release (and AFAIK NSW the same?)

He found a GP in Ulverstone who had a vacancy this weekend.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If Pharmacies in Melbourne had of been able to have done Pfizer Vaccinations this week , they would have have just as big a demand as the main Hubs. That is how monopolies work.

Once people have made up their mind to get vaccinated they will choose a location and or/channel that suits them best.

When the GP Channel get Pfizer, as Hunt is clearly planning, demand will lift there as well. If GP's had the monopoly on Pfizer then the Hubs would a lot less busy.

The 40-49 years olds just want to get vaccinated and probably would have queued up at a Mr Whippy Van if that was the only option.



But again, Hubs are good, GP RC's are good, GP Practices are good and moreso for those that want to have a consultation. All channels are good, it is all about boosting throughput to get above a million doses per week.

The pharmac_ channel would be excellent too. I look forward to it being added. I am getting my flu vaccine at one tomorrow, just as I now have done so for many years.

 

[burmans]

However NSW and Qld opened wait lists for Pfizer hubs before this outbreak and saw similar high registration numbers.

A lot of young people have been eager to get Pfizer. Fear may have motivated some, but a lot would have signed up anyway. There is less hesitancy re Pfizer than AZ.

Agree but how long will that last. A few thousand waitlist will be knocked over in no time.