Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd's press conference on 31 January 2021

Read the transcript of Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd's press conference on 31 January 2021 about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Date published:
Media event date:
Media type:
Transcript
Audience:
General public

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Today is the 13th consecutive day of no cases of COVID-19 being reported in Australia. I'm advised this is the longest stretch of no cases of COVID-19 in our country, since March last year. This is a huge credit to the people of Australia, and I thank you for your contributions to keeping our nation COVID safe. The global figures, by comparison, are very concerning. Over 102 million cases of COVID-19 reported in countries all around the world. And the tragedy of over 2.2 million deaths. Over the past 24 hours alone, there have been over 600,000 new cases of COVID-19 reported in countries around the world. And over 16,000 additional deaths. These are devastating figures, affecting people in many countries.

I want to provide an update on the pause on the green zone flights from New Zealand. The current 72-hour pause in the green zone flights, runs until 2pm tomorrow. The Australian Health Protection Principle Committee, the AHPPC, has met again today with our New Zealand colleagues, the New Zealand Chief Medical Officer, and other public health officials. The health authorities in New Zealand are continuing to do an excellent job. Following up the contacts of the three people who were diagnosed with the South African variant of COVID-19. And also, following up all the other guests and all the staff members who were working at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland, at the time when these three infections occurred. There are still test results outstanding on a number of people, and- who may have been at risk. So the AHPPC will be meeting again tomorrow morning, with our New Zealand colleagues, and will then provide advice to the Australian Government.

I'd also like to provide an update on the vaccines. Minister Greg Hunt has reconfirmed this morning that Australia's current vaccine schedule is on track. He's reconfirmed this with the country heads of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca. Australia welcomes the announcement this morning from the European Medicines Agency. The recommendations to authorise the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for use in adults 18 years and older, throughout the European Union. This is an important step for the world.

Of course, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the TGA, will make its own independent decision on the AstraZeneca vaccine, based on the international evidence. The TGA will continue to prioritise safety above all else. As set out earlier this week, the Government remains on track for a late February commencement of the Pfizer vaccine rollout. Commencing with the availability of approximately 80,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine per week. In addition, the rollout of the AstraZeneca international doses is on track for an early March rollout, subject to TGA approval, and final shipping confirmation. The latest guidance from AstraZeneca is for supply of approximately 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from offshore during March. And the company remains committed to the full supply of 3.8 million offshore, and we'll reconfirm additional shipping dates once the global supplies are confirmed.

Further, Australia's certainty and continuity of supply is underpinned by the 50 million dose domestic production agreement with CSL and AstraZeneca. This supply is now projected to commence in late March, earlier than previously expected, with 1 million doses per week. It's projected that 2 million domestically produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied in late March. These projections already take into account the global supply challenges for both Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and the European regulatory proposals. All deliveries are of course subject to global production and shipping processes. The projections which we have are cautious and conservative. Our guidance, however, remains for a late vaccine commencement- late February commencement, with rollout to priority populations in accordance with the national vaccination strategy. And with all Australians who seek to be vaccinated having received their vaccines by the end of October. Australia is one of the strongest positions in the world. Not only because the work of every Australian in containing the spread of the coronavirus, but also because of our onshore, manufacturing agreement with CSL, which provides certainty of vaccine supply, at a time of immense international competition and uncertainty. I'm happy to take questions from the phone. Do I have James?

No James. Do I have Noah? Okay, do I have Fiona?

QUESTION:

You have Tegan from Channel 10, if that's alright?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Tegan from Channel 10, thank you, Tegan. Looks like I've lost some of the others along the way. Tegan, what are questions please?

QUESTION:                          

Can we just touch on WA reopening its borders to everyone but New South Wales? What do you think they will make of that decision?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Look, the decisions about borders are obviously not medical decisions, they're not decisions made by the AHPPC, I'll leave comment on the border opening and closing to our political leaders.

Thanks Tegan. Did you have any other question?

QUESTION:                          

Rashida?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Rashida.

QUESTION:                          

Sorry, Rashida from SBS News here. I just wanted to ask about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that's just been announced at a 66 per cent efficacy rate. Is that likely to be made available in Australia in the private market at least?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Thanks Rashida. So the question is about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We had announced today results from their phase 3 global clinical trials, of the Janssen single-dose vaccine candidate. Rashida, there are many vaccine candidates under development around the world at the moment, so we are likely to get many announcements coming through as each of these candidates goes through the phases of its clinical trials, leading up to consideration as to whether vaccines are licensed for use in Australia or elsewhere. It's very early in the process, still, for that Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they're just providing announcements for their phase 3 trials. So, we'll hear more about that one I'm sure over weeks ahead. Any other questions?

QUESTION:                          

Professor, James here from the Sydney Morning Herald. Sorry about that. The [Indistinct] was caught up in a bit technical snafu. Look, I just wanted to pick up on something that you said there about the supply of vaccines being subject to global contribution. It sounds to me, like you're acknowledging the potential that there is some risk that Australia may actually have the supply of vaccines delayed until potentially the end of March.

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Thanks James. So, the question is about; is there risk that Australia may have interruptions to the supply of vaccine until the end of March. This is why Minister Hunt is keeping in contact with the country leads for both Pfizer and AstraZeneca on a day to day basis. To ensure that we continue to have certainty about the offshore production, but also the shipping of the doses. Of the two vaccines to Australia. But, you're quite right. We have good news in that from March, we will have the onshore production of the AstraZeneca vaccine beginning to rollout vaccines for the Australian population. Subject, of course, to approval by the TGA.

QUESTION:                          

Professor, it's Fiona Willan here from Channel Nine apologies for tech issues. Look, I just wanted to question something. So, I understand the Health Minister has been in touch with AstraZeneca and Pfizer, and they've provided reassurance, but is the issue not that European leaders can prevent these vaccines from leaving Europe and coming to places such as Australia?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

Thanks Fiona. So, the question is, are there also concerns about European leaders causing delays or blocking vaccines going to Australia. What we're seeing at the moment is - there are concerns overseas about what decisions are being made with Europe. Obviously, Australia is reaching out to colleagues right across the world to ensure that we do have continuity of supply once these vaccines start coming towards Australia. Any final questions?

QUESTION:                          

Michelle here from Sky News. Does the Government concede it would have vaccinated 4 million Australians by March, even before the EU disrupted the supply chain?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

I'm sorry, can you repeat that question?

QUESTION:                          

Does the Government concede it would not have vaccinated 4 million Australians by the end of March, even before the EU disrupted the supply chain?

MICHAEL KIDD:                   

I'll have to get back to you about the actual number of Australians who we expect to have vaccinated by the end of March, I haven't got the maths in front of me just at the moment.

Thank you everybody, thank you.

Contact

Help us improve health.gov.au

If you would like a response please use the enquiries form instead.