Australia could start vaccinating vulnerable groups of the population next month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed, saying approvals for the Pfizer vaccine were hoped to be finalised by the end of January.
After pressure from the federal opposition and some scientists to speed up the process, Mr Morrison said he was hoping to receive data from Pfizer this month to allow the vaccine's approval and "we are now in a position where believe we will be able to commence vaccinations of [vulnerable groups] in mid to late February".
Scott Morrison says the vaccination program could start in February.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The previous timeline was to begin the vaccination program in March. Mr Morrison said the aim would be to vaccinate 80,000 people each week to begin with, and for that to build over the next four to six weeks.
He said the government was working towards having four million people vaccinated by the end of March.
"Vaccination in 2021 is a key component of how we're dealing with the pandemic here in Australia," he said.
The vaccination timeframe will, however, be dependent on Therapeutic Goods Administration approval and the delivery of the vaccine from suppliers.
The government aims to register the Pfizer vaccine later this month, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in February.
Professor Brendan Murphy, secretary of the federal Health Department, said nearly half the Australian population would be included in one of the priority groups to receive the vaccine in the first half of this year.
The rest of the general adult population could expect to receive the vaccine from the middle of the year onwards.
The first priority group will receive the Pfizer vaccine from one of 30 to 50 hubs to be established across the country to administer the vaccine. The two vaccines will eventually be administered from different hubs. Their locations will be determined by the states and territories, in partnership with the Commonwealth.
"Assuming all those things go well, in mid to late February we can start our phase one rollout," Professor Murphy said.
This will be for the priority group, and they will receive the Pfizer vaccine: quarantine and border workers, health care workers, aged care staff and aged care residents.
Professor Murphy said the majority of the population would get their vaccines from respiratory clinics established by the federal government or general practices that chose to participate.
They will also be able to be vaccinated at special clinics that state health departments will establish, or at sites set up by Aboriginal community-controlled health services.
Pharmacies might also be able to administer vaccines during the second half of the year.
Professor Murphy said there will be "significantly" more vaccine doses available when the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is approved, as it will be manufactured on shore, guaranteeing a supply line.
"That will enable a rapid rollout. We will expand that to a significantly broader range of the at-risk population," he said.
That includes those of advanced age, Indigenous Australians, those over 55 at higher risk of disease, other people with clinical conditions that make them at higher risk, and other high-risk workers more likely to be exposed to COVID-19.
Professor Brendan Murphy confirmed the vaccine would be free for all Australians.
"We can guarantee the vaccine will be free, and it will be delivered free," he said. "We do not want there to be any barrier whatsoever."
He defended the time his department had taken in co-ordinating the country's vaccine response, saying health officials had been working around the clock on one of the most complex public health exercises of their careers. "This time is not being wasted," he said.
Asked why the vaccination roll-out couldn't happen even sooner, the Prime Minister said a two week delivery wait time was required after the Pfizer vaccine was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
"The vaccines don't turn up before the TGA approval. They turn up after. And after that, there is about a week involved in batch testing [before they are administered]," Mr Morrison said.
"It is moving considerably faster than normal vaccination processes would in Australia, but without skipping a step."
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government's approach had been to "under-promise but over-deliver", and he was confident about the new time frame.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he and select other members of the government would be willing to be vaccinated in the early stages live on television, as United State President and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did, saying it is important to build public confidence in the vaccine.
But he said it was very low priority compared to ensuring the most vulnerable populations were vaccinated.
"I don't think we need to line the whole cabinet up … I think there are more important people who need to get vaccinated," he said.
"But I think it's important for a show of public confidence."
He said there was a "discussion that needs to be had" to ensure people opted to receive the vaccine, considering it will be voluntary.
"So we will have that discussion," he said. "It needs to be had with state and territories who are principally responsible for public health."
Natassia is the education reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2021-01-07 02:08:00Z
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