If the EU effectively refuse to supply PNG with AZ, well a) that’s a really crappy move, and b) it might force Australia to have to divert an amount each week from the CSL supply for it. Could see them doing around 100k to 150k a week for this. It hurts our rollout a little, but it would be for the greater good.
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Given the risk PNG presents the minor delay would a drop in the ocean by comparison…
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I would think that we will never see another single dose from the EU, despite them having the vaccines sitting around in warehouses doing nothing. CSL getting production up to or over 1m doses per week should mean we can easily give 150k to PNG each week and perhaps more
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Right now, we’re struggling to roll out what’s been made or imported, so diverting some of it to PNG seems like a pretty good move.
I’m pretty sure we couldn’t use all the 1 million doses a week CSL is said to be able to produce.
There was some heavy criticism of the Fed’s approach from the GP community on the radio earlier in the week. It is a logistical & management stuff-up, not a problem of supply. Clinics have planned to provide 200-400 p.w., but have been allocated 50. Communication back to the feds to clarify basically goes nowhere. No one seems to know what is going on.
Meanwhile the States are mass vaccinating for the 1B cohort via their Health resources & facilities like the Exhibition Centre. Bottom line - the Feds want the glory & won’t give it up, but their strategy to distribute via GP clinics is deeply flawed. They just aren’t setup for mass vaccinations.
So its all politics. And we suffer.
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Vax via GPs for those living at home makes sense in terms of GP specific knowledge of health of 70+ and health compromised on their books, including medication currently being prescribed. It would be more extensive than the MyGov Health records for those who have not opted out.
The problem may be a one size fits all approach if every GP in the scheme is allocated 50 doses, irrespective of numbers on the books or in a location with a lot of retirees.
I don’t know about the arrangements for retirement villages.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly credited “greed” and “capitalism” for Britain’s successful coronavirus vaccine rollout in a private meeting on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), a gaffe that threatens to further inflame tensions when the country’s vaccine supply may be significantly curbed by the European Union.
Johnson immediately retracted the remark, making it “absolutely clear it was a joke” and a reference to the film Wall Street , another attendee told the BBC.
Immediately after he joked about greed, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he regretted saying it.
But to many scientists and public health experts, the unfiltered remark rang uncomfortably true - even if Johnson was joking rather than bragging.
After all, wealthy countries, including the United Kingdom, have snapped up billions of vaccine doses while people in poorer countries could be waiting until 2024 to get their shots.
They’ve also opposed a push to waive intellectual property rights that could make it easier for developing nations to manufacture their own vaccine supplies, but potentially cut profits for pharmaceutical companies.
Johnson’s remarks were first reported by the London tabloid The Sun , and subsequently confirmed by government MPs. According to the tabloid, the Prime Minister told a group of Tory parliament members over Zoom, “The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed, my friends”.
Haven’t we just got to love humanity?!!
Yep, that is 100% not acceptable.
COVAX is a brilliant initiative, but if wealthy countries are just hording vaccines, any contribution they make towards it is nothing but lip-service.
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Yeah I had heard that too. I’m getting my second dose in 2 weeks so we shall see!
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whatever happened to the SUPER SPREADERS…
Why wouldn’t we ramp up production and help supply other parts of the world?
This could really be an ‘untapped’ part of our economic recovery and could also set us up for future ‘regional’ medication supplies.
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“we’re not the red cross mate.”
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If AZ are having yield problems elsewhere, and CSL start pumping it out, I could see a phone call or two from an AZ executive, and then free stuff turning up at Broadmeadows (eg a Bioreactor or two) and CSL then do an export thing.
And, yes, locally produced AZ is now being sent to PNG. Australia and the South Pacific would be a world of pain if we didn’t have local manufacturing capacity.
EDIT: And good on Europe for feeding this crap: “The leader of PNG’s Opposition, Belden Namah, on Thursday called on Prime Minister James Marape to halt the rollout, saying that the Australian doses had not been properly tested and citing concerns in Europe about blood clotting risks.”
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So, about these 4M vaccinated by end of March.
This is bullshit
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Thank ■■■■ we’re not some COVID ravaged disaster zone with 1000’s of people dying every day…
Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing…
When politicians talk a big game, they gotta back it up.
Over promised and under delivered, again.
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I’d have thought you’d be used it by now. Those that lead us are a pathetic rabble, at all levels, but it is what we deserve.
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+5247 doses in Vic. ~6800 frontline workers and elderly/at risk fully vaccinated.
75k total for Vic.
The national total stands at 414k although haven’t had an update from NSW for a few days so likely closer to 450k.
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Um, these two statements don’t really go together!
Yes, yes it is!
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