BEN FORDHAM:
We’re gearing up for the first coronavirus vaccinations in Australia. Around the world, millions of Pfizer jabs have already been delivered. In preparation, the Government will be rolling out vaccine training programmes, telling providers how to store, handle and administer the vaccines. The Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt is on the line. Minister, good morning to you.
GREG HUNT:
And good morning, Ben.
BEN FORDHAM:
I should ask you first of all about South Africa; South Africa’s walking away from the AstraZeneca vaccine. We’re told this morning authorities have ordered a halt to the planned rollout because it doesn’t protect recipients from the new strain of the virus. It’s not only South Africa with concerns, are you worried about the effectiveness of AstraZeneca’s vaccine?
GREG HUNT:
No. In fact, what we’ve seen is additional data coming out of the UK recently. I spoke with the UK Health Secretary in recent days, that’s their health minister equivalent, they’re having very strong results. In terms of particular variants, particular countries, the world is learning about those with all vaccines.
But all up, what we’re seeing is very significant results from the vaccines that have been approved, with up to a hundred per cent protection on the early data that we’ve seen in the clinical trial results for serious illness and hospitalisation. So, that’s the critical thing, and that’s the protection. And ultimately, this is about saving lives and protecting lives.
BEN FORDHAM:
You’ve put out a bit of a guideline this morning on how the vaccine rollout is going to work?
GREG HUNT:
Yes. So, what we have is training modules, in the same way that we’ve had, all up, about 1.4 million people do 3.6 million units of training on infection prevention and other elements, with regards to infection control, Australians have just been incredible.
Now it’s time to prepare for the administration of the vaccines. In particular, what we’re looking at is having people begin to prepare for the first of the vaccine rollouts, Pfizer and then the AstraZeneca. And we’re inviting health professionals from later this morning to go to health.gov.au, and then there's the COVID vaccine training programme, or COVID19vaccination training.org.au.
And all of that will take you through, and that will help make sure that we’ve got training on the vaccine administration, the vaccine handling, storage, these elements which are part and parcel of inoculating a population.
BEN FORDHAM:
If there are any adverse reactions to either vaccine, you're going to share all of that information on a database?
GREG HUNT:
That's correct. So, there'll be a weekly report from the Therapeutic Goods Administration, that's our medical regulator. And what that will do is outline the vaccinations, any adverse reactions. Just in the same way if we're having the flu, or our kids might be having measles, mumps, rubella vaccinations. We're very used to this. We have the Meningococcal ACWY, or we might have the Gardasil 9 vaccine.
Some people will have a response; it could be a sore arm, they might be feeling a little bit ill. And where there is any significant, what are called adverse events, then we'll have public reporting of those.
BEN FORDHAM:
We're speaking to the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, this Monday morning. I can't quite believe this, but we've now gone three weeks in New South Wales with no community transmission. And Mark McGowan, the West Australian Premier, said yesterday: the door’s still shut to New South Wales.
GREG HUNT:
Well, look, that is a matter for him. I spoke with the Premier Gladys Berejiklian on the weekend, and she, I think, maintained a very careful, cautious but balanced programme where she looks at the situation in other states with her Chief Health Officer and her Health Minister. New South Wales has continued allowing people from Western Australia and Victoria, WA where there've been- sorry, Queensland, where there've been outbreaks.
And it's a risk-based assessment, there's no Commonwealth hotspot definition for any state or territory in Australia at the moment. And so, it then becomes a matter for individual Premiers if they wish to do this, and it's up to them to set out their medical advice.
But frankly, New South Wales is doing incredibly well. I understand there are reports, obviously, of a return traveller after 16 days, in their post-quarantine, they having a very weak positive, and the state will set out those details. But we know how to deal with these outbreaks, that's the thing.
All the states, mainland states have been tested recently; we’ve had outbreaks in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and WA in recent months, and every state has been able to manage them. And that's, I think, the very, very important news for Australians. We said we'd get through it, we said there'd be challenges. I think both are accurate, and Australians have absolutely risen to the task.
BEN FORDHAM:
I've only got about 30 seconds left with you. Can you tell me the date of the first jab that will be administered?
GREG HUNT:
Late February. So, we’ll set a final date once we have shipping confirmation from the company. But we’ve been in contact with Pfizer Australia yesterday, and they remain on track. I was in contact with AstraZeneca on the weekend, indeed, the Australian and global heads, they remain on track for early March.
So, late February for Pfizer, early March for AstraZeneca. And we're on track to complete the vaccination programme for Australia by the end of October.
BEN FORDHAM:
We appreciate your time, Minister. Have a good day.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks Ben. Take care everyone.
BEN FORDHAM:
Greg Hunt, the Federal Health Minister, joining us live.