Scott Morrison is expected to announce more mass vaccination sites after national cabinet meeting to speed up Australia’s rollout of the Covid jab
- National cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the progress of vaccine rollout
- Scott Morrison is expected to speak today on how it will be made faster
- There is proposal for more state and territory mass vaccination sites to be made
A plan to bring forward Covid-19 jabs for Australians aged 50 and over and proposals for state and territory mass vaccination sites are expected to be unveiled on Thursday.
The prime minister will meet with the premiers and chief ministers for national cabinet, which reached an in-principle agreement on changes to the vaccine rollout at Monday’s meeting.
While GPs will continue to be the main delivery point for vaccinations for people aged 50 and older, states and territories are considering options to supplement the rollout through expanded state vaccination centres.
As the program topped 1.7 million jabs on Wednesday, there has been broad concern about the speed of the rollout and vaccine supply shortages.
The prime minister will meet with the premiers and chief ministers for national cabinet, which reached an in-principle agreement on changes to the vaccine rollout at Monday’s meeting
An inquiry heard this week only 6.5 per cent of disability care facility residents have received their jab, despite them being included in the first priority group of the vaccine rollout.
Chandi Piefke, from disability service provider Able Australia, accepted it was a massive task for governments, but the low figures were concerning.
‘We need to ensure our clients do receive the vaccine,’ she said.
‘Should they contract Covid they would be one of the groups highest at risk in terms of mortality rates.’
Victoria has moved to boost the initial phase with a number of large facilities, including Geelong’s former Ford factory, providing AstraZeneca shots for anyone over 70 with or without bookings as part of phase 1a and 1b of the national rollout.
Queensland says it won’t shift to mass vaccination centres until bulk supplies can be guaranteed, which it does not expect until the final three months of the year.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan is in Europe for talks on fast-tracking supplies of vaccines ordered by Australia, but yet to be delivered.
The hold-up on deliveries, as well as public concern about AstraZeneca vaccine links to blood clots, have been blamed for the slowness of the rollout.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, being imported and made by CSL in Melbourne, is being diverted to use in the over-50s group, while Pfizer will be used in the younger cohort.
While the federal government has commissioned a business case for a cutting edge mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Australia, Victoria announced on Wednesday it would spend $50 million to get such a project up and running.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan is in Europe for talks on fast-tracking supplies of vaccines ordered by Australia, but yet to be delivered
‘Twelve months ago would have been the best time to have done this, but the next best time is right now,’ acting premier James Merlino said.
The Australian Medical Association says national cabinet should take specific action to reset the vaccination program.
These included improved distribution of the vaccine to GPs, adjustments to the Medicare system, better explaining of the vaccine benefits to the whole community, and a greater role for the states and territories in administering the Pfizer vaccine.
‘We know the government has faced supply constraints, but it is important that the reset sees more of the available supply of vaccine going to general practice so that GPs can deal with the increased demand that will come from those aged 50 and over,’ AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid said.
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