More and speedier delivery of vaccines

More and speedier delivery of vaccines

The national vaccine rollout is in disarray when ATAGI, the panel of experts that advises the federal government on vaccines announced that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for under 60. The majority of ordered Pfizer vaccine will arrive from October and the locally produced AstraZeneca is now unable to be used by those under 60.

The vaccine rollout plan was designed with locally produced AstraZeneca as the main vaccine used and general practitioners as the main deliverers. In April, blood clotting issues associated with AstraZeneca has already led to a slow-down of the vaccination rate and the setting up of more mass vaccination centres to deliver the Pfizer vaccine. The present ATAGI recommendation further disrupts the vaccine rollout plan in Australia.

Australians in 50-59 who have received the first dose of AstraZeneca are concerned whether they should take up the second dose even the official medical advice is very clear that they should continue. The emergency national cabinet meeting held on 21 June affirmed that the government not recommending a mixed-use of other vaccines as a second dose for this group. However, the government will not force people to take up the second dose of AstraZeneca. This practically means that the full vaccination of this group will be delayed.

This will also result in a shortage of Pfizer vaccine and tight control on its delivery. It is quite obvious that the vaccine rollout will be further delayed. Both NSW and Victoria government have expressed the need to have more vaccine delivered. The federal government need to facilitate more and faster supply of vaccine for Australians to maintain and speed up the vaccination rate.

The delta virus variant which was found to be more contagious than the original alpha strain is now the most dominant strain. There is evidence that only when people are fully vaccinated that they would be protected. As a result, there is a need to speed up the vaccination rollout in Australia.

Raymond Chow

Publisher, Blessing CALD