MICHAEL ROWLAND:
As more parts of the country start reopening, the Doherty Institute has delivered its final modelling to National Cabinet, paving the way for an alternative to school closures when cases emerge. Very welcome development indeed. Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, joins us from Canberra now. Paul, good morning to you. So how important is this for school communities to help transmit to living with COVID?
PAUL KELLY:
Yeah, good morning, Michael, and good morning to everyone. Look, it is wonderful to be in this reopening phase. We are one of the most vaccinated populations in the world now. Double 80 per cent vaccinated across the nation yesterday and rapidly rising in all states, even those that are a little bit behind; New South Wales, Victoria, and ACT. In terms of schools, we do expect school children who are essentially under the age of 12, currently unvaccinated, to be exposed to the virus and we're seeing that right now in schools in those three states. The Doherty modelling is very clear that there are some things we can do to prevent that and also to respond in ways that has a very important outcome, which is about keeping schools open and having kids at school having face to face learning.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
And that'll see the more widespread use of these rapid antigen tests as well?
PAUL KELLY:
That's certainly a component of it. As well as all of the other COVID safety plans that we have talked about for- right throughout the pandemic and the Australian Health Protection Committee has made several statements in relation to that. I have been working closely with colleagues in New South Wales, ACT, and Victoria over the last few weeks to prepare for exactly the issues that are being faced and that's a rapidly moving space in terms of how rapid antigen tests can be used in those circumstances, what is the minimum amount of disruption that can be done safely, and that's important.
I think the other important thing- two things to say about children, particularly in the primary school age group. Firstly, the TGA has received their advice from Pfizer, in terms of an application for that age group and they are going through that process, that independent process. I think that's a really important factor that will come through in the coming weeks and by the end of the year. And the other thing is in that age group, even though the cases are a large number, it's a very small percentage of that age group that gets severe disease. So, 0.1 per cent of the almost 40,000 children that have had COVID this year have ended up in the severe end of the spectrum in intensive care.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Okay.
PAUL KELLY:
So for those few families, that's difficult of course, but most of these cases are mild or even asymptomatic.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
So the approval process is underway but, in principle though, what do you think about vaccinating kids below the age of 12?
PAUL KELLY:
Well, I think safety is the priority. As a parent myself, I want to know that that is a safe thing to do. And so the TGA is going through that process. The same process was concluded recently in the US, where they got that double green light from the FDA, which is the TGA equivalent in the US, and the CDC, and we have our ATAGI process. So that double green light will be important and those safety matters will be absolutely a priority there.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
The booster rollout is happening. Are we recommending everybody get a booster shot, a third dose?
PAUL KELLY:
Yes. We're only the second country in the world to offer a booster program to the whole population. I think the crucial point there is timing. So anyone who has had their second dose six or more months ago is now eligible for a booster. So please make that booking. By the end of the year that will be about 1.7 million people and then, of course, into next year will be when most people will have finished that six-month wait. And so we are all set, we're ready to go with that, and people are rolling up now to get their boosters. We've had over 170,000 people already get a third shot.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Okay. And so what about people like me who happily had two doses of AZ, can I get a Pfizer booster shot? What's the ruling on mixing?
PAUL KELLY:
Yeah, so mixing is on now. I know we've said that in the past, that don't mix and match, but ATAGI has looked at the data in relation to what's been happening internationally and Pfizer is the current booster program. It is only Pfizer. We expect Moderna will follow in shortly with an application for booster shots with Moderna. But that mRNA vaccine will be the boosters for now, regardless of what your primary course was. I think important also, Michael, to say that that primary course gives very good protection. And so anything at the moment that says you must be fully vaccinated to be able to go into a shop, go to the cinema, go on an international trip, that's that first two doses. The booster gives a boost to that protection and I'd certainly encourage everyone who is eligible to go out and get that booking done.
MICHAEL ROWLAND:
Okay. Paul Kelly, appreciate your time. Thank you.
PAUL KELLY:
You're welcome, Michael.