LISA MILLAR:
There's plenty happening this hour and the attention is turning back to the vaccine rollout this morning. The Prime Minister is back at the CSL manufacturing plant in Melbourne where Australia's supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine is being made. We're expecting to hear from him very shortly. The Government's working to build public confidence in the jab as the rollout gains pace. And we're joined now by Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, from Canberra. Good morning, Paul Kelly. Thanks for coming on News Breakfast.
PAUL KELLY:
You're welcome, Lisa.
LISA MILLAR:
Don't know whether you could hear Michael Rowland talking in Cairns there, but a lot of people there wondering whether international travel might still be as far away as 2023. I mean, how are you feeling as we head into this period? Where’s your level of optimism sit?
PAUL KELLY:
Well, I'm extremely optimistic in the way that the vaccine is rolling out, because that's our way out of this pandemic. And we've seen wonderful progress this week in terms of the AstraZeneca rolling off the CSL plant and now being delivered, right now, into GP surgeries and state and territory clinics this week, for use next week. So that’s an exciting time. That's the way we’ll be able to get through the pandemic. I think the other thing that’s very optimistic is the majority of days this year, so far we've had no community transmission in Australia. All of the domestic borders are open. All of the states are introducing measures to roll back some of those restrictions. And whilst I don't think I’ll be having a private gathering of over 100 people in my house, that is apparently allowed in several states now. So, very optimistic of where we are and where we’re heading.
LISA MILLAR:
Couldn't fit 100 people if I tried. But anyway, I’m sure some people can. Paul Kelly, what are the challenges, though? Are we- the numbers, people keep saying we’re not where we wanted to be target-wise?
PAUL KELLY:
So, look, I think we’ve been clear about the main reason for that and it's about supply. Supply has been dependent on international supplies. We've had blockages from Europe over this period. We expected 3.8 million doses; we’ve received 700,000 and so that is a huge gap. But that's really going to change- is changing right now because of our decision made last year to make sure we had our own domestic supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine. So we’ll have rapid ramp up over the coming weeks. And indeed, this week, with GPs now very enthusiastically giving the vaccine throughout Australia, in over a thousand GP clinics, we have seen a rapid increase. So, in the last couple of days, double what we were doing on a day- on days last week. And that will continue to rise in the coming weeks.
LISA MILLAR:
And are we going to hear more news from Scott Morrison this morning? He's at the CSL manufacturing plant. What's prompted this visit?
PAUL KELLY:
Well, the Prime Minister, of course, has been very interested and involved and engaged with the vaccine rollout from the beginning. And so- I’m sure he’s going there to look at that fill and finish line that’s been- is now producing vaccines and they are being rolled out right now, and they’ll be being used and put into arms next week in GP surgeries and state and territory clinics around the country.
LISA MILLAR:
Alright. Paul Kelly, thank you for your time.
PAUL KELLY:
You’re welcome.
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