The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[drron]

And note what the CEO said in the article linked by @qaz.
"Scottish and British studies showed the AstraZeneca vaccine was now proven 100 per cent effective against death, and caused a 94 per cent reduction in hospitalisations. Its reputation that it is inferior to rival vaccines such as Pfizer was based on “not enough data” from early studies, he says."

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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

Thank you for sharing. A very interesting article and an an insightful informative read for any one.

“Has it been perfect? No. But it’s really been a resounding success,” he says.​

I think you can apply that also to much of what we have achieved in Australia. Look for perfection and you will never be content. Have we done well = a resounding success

“I mean, it’s my country. I wanted to make sure that people were well covered here and were protected. It was with the Health Minister [Greg Hunt] himself and his team, and our colleagues at CSL did a tremendous job.”​

​

Mr Soriot says Australia is “very lucky” to have CSL Limited, which started life as a government department in 1916 before it was privatised in 1994 and is now our fourth largest company.​

I liked his comment on teamwork:

Mr Soriot, who says he learnt teamwork growing up in poor parts of Paris when his friends banded together in local fights, has been battling disputes in Europe over vaccine supply and efficacy, including from his own French president Emmanuel Macron who was forced to enact a U-turn on his criticism the AstraZeneca vaccine was ineffective on people over 65.​

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Is their a current table of jabs as a percentage of allocation distributed for each jurisdiction? I can only find a week 1 version

 

[Lynda2475]

Would expect that table to come tomorrow, as vaccine roll-out started on Sunday, so today is end of 2nd week and todays numbers arent in yet.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

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.

Very sensible move in my view.

Ideally, this should also apply to the medical staff of the Covid Wards (by this I mean the medical staff who are either currently treating, or would treat a person hospitalised with Covid. And I don't mean SCOVID's as that would drag in too many lower risk people) and their families.

At present 1a includes a lot of people who are not that likely to be exposed to Covid in the near term. They should be prioritised, but in my view the people most likely to be exposed to Covid should be vaccinated first.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Austin Hospital's second and much larger vaccination clinic with a capacity of about 10,000 injections per week will be opening soon. It's first, which commenced on 22 Feb, will have a capacity of about 350 per day.

With supply increasing more clinics will continue to open in Victoria.

 

[RooFlyer]

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

Not only that, but a dual Australian citizen. There was a long and detailed piece on him in the Oz a month or so ago, too.

 

[DC3]

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

Not to mention most white goods, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, .....

A bit off-topic, admittedly.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Not to mention most white goods, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, .....

A bit off-topic, admittedly.

No it is actually on-topic. We cannot be self-sufficient in everything. Are we going to build all our own aircraft? Trucks? Hospital equipment. CT Scanners? We can certainly make some things both for our own needs, as well as to export. But making everything is simply no longer feasible for a country of our size.

Yes we can build some things here, but the more important exercise is to ensure we have multiple supply chains. What this pandemic has exposed is that we had too many eggs in the one (Chinese) basket. The solution is in part to ensure more local production, but the main solution is to ensure that mission critical items are not mainly from the one country, and moreso that an abundance of such critical items are sourced from a diverse range of locations. Trying to make everything here in Australia would send us as a country backwards at a rapid rate.

We area trading nation and that means that we need to both import and export.

With Seqirus we were most fortunate that they were already established here in Australia, and the Federal and State Government have both acted to help them expand and build a bigger and better plant to enhance our future bio-security.

A $Billion the Feds over 12 years and the Vic Government chiming in too. Plus CSL with $800 million. So as per my point earlier starting up a second vaccine competitor is not a small or simple exercise as you also need to have a business model that can support long-term production. AZ was able to be cranked up quite rapidly as they already had a facility here. To create a completely new facility from a zero base takes much longer as in the new Seqirus facility to now be built.

Morrison government commits $1 billion over 12 years for new vaccine manufacturing supply

The federal government has concluded a $1 billion agreement for a new high-tech manufacturing facility in Melbourne which would produce pandemic influenza vaccines as well as antivenoms.

theconversation.com

Vaccine production is a high technology and skilled business and to get a second such manufacturer would be a hugely expensive exercise and timewise most likely would have been too late for our current pandemic needs..

 

[DC3]

No it is actually on-topic. We cannot be self-sufficient in everything ..

And now we produce ‘bugger all’. When we once produced many white goods and also vehicles. Now pretty much reliant on others.

Edited

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And now we produce ‘bugger all’. When we once produced many white goods and also vehicles. Now pretty much reliant on others.

Edited

Well at least we are rolling out our first military aircraft for 50 years, the Loyal Wingman.

Watch Australia's First New Warplane in Half a Century Take Flight

Boeing's unmanned "Loyal Wingman" will accompany fighter jets into combat.

www.popularmechanics.com

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Changes to the rollout

Australia will enlist the help of more than 4,500 GP clinics in its bid to keep its vaccine rollout on schedule.

Local doctors will be brought in for phase 1b of the rollout, which targets older people and those with certain underlying conditions, from March 22.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the change would “ensure an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country”.

More in Major change to Australia’s vaccine rollout

 

[Lynda2475]

Food and medical supply (drugs, vaccines, equipment) should be a priority for onshore capability. White goods not as essential, if there a delays in getting a new tv or car no real suffering.

You have not convinced me that having a second onshore vaccine manufacturer is not viable, all the excuses you nave posted can be overcome, and highly skilled industries are where we need to focus investment not white goods which was never mentioned.

 

[Pushka]

Pleasing to hear at a 60th birthday party last night that those of us with ageing parents have already received their first vaccination.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Changes to the rollout

Australia will enlist the help of more than 4,500 GP clinics in its bid to keep its vaccine rollout on schedule.

Local doctors will be brought in for phase 1b of the rollout, which targets older people and those with certain underlying conditions, from March 22.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the change would “ensure an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country”.

More in Major change to Australia’s vaccine rollout

Dad told me his clinic is on the approved list. Expects to run extended hours in early morning and late evening as vaccine only appointments, leaving the day for regular clinical work. Was not given detail on dose numbers or a start date, but hopes to get the first shot within 4 weeks and then begin administering to 1B patients.

 

[serfty]

He didnt say why he thought it more important that HQ and medical staff get in the bit that i heard, but assume its because of superior efficacy?

There is no contempoary research that indicates Pfizer has superior efficacy than AZ. In fact in the last weeks research has indicated that AZ may indeed be better at preventing serious illness.

How well does the AstraZeneca vaccine work? An expert reviews the current evidence

Fears that the vaccine doesn’t work in older people appear unfounded.

theconversation.com

...
But recent real-world data from the UK suggests that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine might actually be a bit better than Pfizer’s at preventing serious disease and hospitalisation. However, these studies haven’t been set up to avoid outside biases affecting results. For example, the Pfizer vaccine was rolled out first, so might have been given disproportionately to more vulnerable people. Also, these studies are preprints, meaning they haven’t been checked by other scientists yet.

So whether the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is more or less effective than others at preventing COVID-19 isn’t clear yet. The important thing to remember is that all the authorised vaccines are safe and offer very good levels of protection against COVID-19. If you’re offered any vaccine, you should take it. ...

And note what the CEO said in the article linked by @qaz.
"Scottish and British studies showed the AstraZeneca vaccine was now proven 100 per cent effective against death, and caused a 94 per cent reduction in hospitalisations. Its reputation that it is inferior to rival vaccines such as Pfizer was based on “not enough data” from early studies, he says."

 

[Pushka]

I am going to have to go Doctor shopping as my GP clinic didn't apply. In 1b.

 

[Lynda2475]

Pushka the GP practice i go to is part of the program, because they specialise in womens health and travel medicine and are one of a few places authorised to give yellow fever vaccine. They have a couple of full time nurses whose full time job it is to give vaccines and take bloods, very good at giving shots without you feeling it. A friend was there last month for her RA and doctor said they had done all their training and also installed special fridges that mean they can store the pfizer at -80 should government expand that program too.

Maybe look to see if there is a similar such practice in Adelaide?

IMO practices that administer a wide variety of vaccines at scale as a core part of their regular practice will be best placed to give quality service for Covid. With all the vaccines and boosters ive had over last 25 years due to travels, and watching the nurses double check vaccine and doses (and also show me that the box/vial matches doctors orders) gives more confidence than a small 1 or 2 GP practice who rarely administer any shots.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You have not convinced me that having a second onshore vaccine manufacturer is not viable, all the excuses you nave posted can be overcome, and highly skilled industries are where we need to focus investment not white goods which was never mentioned.

Excuses?

I don't expect to convince you as you seem to believe that there is a bottomless magic government money jar to pick up the tab.

The Federal and Victorian Goverments have already ensured that there will enough manufacturing capacity for more than the entire Australian population on a 1/ An initial basis by expanding the current facilities and 2/ on permanent basis for vaccine production going forward in a much larger facility. A deal with Astrazeneca allowed this to occur. With that no CV19 vaccine would be being made here.

All supported with a $Billion subsidy from the Feds and other incentives from the Vics.

Likewise with agreements in place with Seqirus, there would be little incentive for a competitor to spend vast sums of money setting up hoping that they may eventually win business.

Investment in businesses occurs in order to make money. If it is viable for a competitor to set up another plant in Australia they will do so. With supply for the entire Australian population already guaranteed there is no incentive for the Federal Government to shell out another $Billion for additional coverage.

So yes the Federal government could expend extra money to have another vaccine manufacturer, but there is no need. In addition it could well be that the Seqirus agreement is such that they only agreed to their $800 million investment if the Federal Government did not likewise support a competitor. That type of deal is often done by governments.

 

[Lynda2475]

I don't expect to convince you as you seem to believe that there is a bottomless magic government money jar to pick up the tab.

Never said this was the case, and i would be against any further incentives or contracts going to Victoria as that is increasing geographical risk. Government can incentivise industry investment without underwriting full cost.

Its not just about covid vaccines, its about all vaccines and key drugs. We had flu vaccine delays last year too because onshore didnt keep up, many medications are also in short supply due to covid impacting production in India. There is room in market for more onshore production (and underserved markets in the pacific) of drugs and vaccines, and these are industry expansions that should be encouraged over propping other dying industries.

Covid is unusual that government is buying doses for all Australians whereas usually the majority of us pay for our annual flu vaccine (either individually or employer) and other travel vaccines (ive spent over $3k over past 25 years plus cost of the GP consult wach time), only those on welfare health care cards get freebies.

Monopolies arent good for ensuring supply. If there were 2 onshore options government could swap out overseas supply contracts to local companies which benefit everyone, remove risk of EU blockages etc. We need to stop looking short term amd plan long term security, covid wont be the last pandemic. It has highlighted where we are vulnerable, and crazy cheap finance makes it perfect time to invest in remedies.