Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Professor Alison McMillan's interview on 4BC on 24 March 2021

Read the transcript of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Professor Alison McMillan's interview on 4BC on 24 March 2021 about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Date published:
Media type:
Transcript
Audience:
General public

 

NEIL BREEN:         

Okay. We haven't spoken about COVID-19 much today, but the home made AstraZeneca vaccine is now available for Australians, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration last night approving the release of the first four batches, that totals 832,200 doses. So, what does that mean? Joining me now is, Alison McMillan, she's the Commonwealth Government, Department of Health's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. How are you this morning, Alison?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

I'm very well, thank you, Neil.

NEIL BREEN:         

That's good. So, it's been approved and we've got 832,200 of them ready to roll-out. These are the ones produced in Australia at CSL, out of Victoria. So, how quickly can we get them out to the people of Queensland?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

Well, we're going to get them out as quickly as we can, Neil. This is only the beginning of what we expect to be 50 million doses, coming out of this facility in Melbourne. There's at least another 2.5 million that have been produced, are now just waiting for the batch testing, which is an important part of the quality assurance process that TGA go through to make sure these vaccines are safe for us.

NEIL BREEN:         

So, Alison, we've been promised that it could produce a million vaccines a week…

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

[Interrupts] Yep.

NEIL BREEN:         

…in Australia. So, do we look like being on track to do that? It sounds as though, by the numbers that you've just given us.

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

Yes, we do look on track. That is the focus, Neil, is to get a million doses a week. Remember, each of us need two doses of these vaccines, so that's our focus, is to try and get these vaccines out. Obviously, there's a very stringent process around quality checking, but that's the focus and the target is that one million.

NEIL BREEN:         

Yeah, because I've had some mixed feedback. Like, my mother text me yesterday and she's beaten cancer, at this stage, and she's over 70. And she couldn't get a slot until May, which I thought was disappointing, because she's been trying to get on the list forever. But, other people like Irene, from Taringa: my parents had their first COVID vaccination on Monday and no reaction, it was easy. And David, wrote in: my COVID jab yesterday, quick, efficient, safe, got in and out real quick. So, it seems to be working at two speeds; people are either lucky or not?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

Neil, I don't think it's luck. I think that we will continue to [indistinct]…

NEIL BREEN:         

[Talks over] I think it's luck. I think it's luck. No, we have to be honest about this. Because if your GP clinic has the vaccine, you can get in quick and if your GP vaccine doesn't have the doses for you, then you're in the queue at another one?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

But these vaccines are going to increasingly, Neil, become available, also through GP respiratory clinics and into the future, potentially pharmacies as well. So, we can't get to everyone straight away, we are looking to focus on those priority groups, including your mum, which is those in the group 1B, but that is 6 million people. So, it's important for your mum and everyone else to keep doing those COVID-safe things and we will aim to get to everyone as quickly and safely as we possibly can.

NEIL BREEN:         

I'm talking to Alison McMillan, she's the Commonwealth Government, Department of Health's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. So, you still think all Australians, at least one dose by October, is it possible?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

Yes, it's possible. As we roll out increasingly, the numbers of domestically produced AstraZeneca, that will give us the capacity to ramp up the numbers over the coming months.

NEIL BREEN:         

And one of the issues was, the doses is one thing, so we can produce the million a week in Australia now. It's the needles and the staff, the bodies, I suppose, to do it. Have we got that in place?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

That's right - well, as you can imagine, Neil, as the Chief Nurse in the Commonwealth Government. Nurses are by far those at the frontline for caring for people with COVID and also now, delivering the vaccine. So, yes, we've got workforce out there all specially trained, to make sure that they can administer this vaccine safely and effectively. And we'll continue to work and rollout increasing numbers of staff as we need them.

NEIL BREEN:         

Hey, just before I let you go, Alison McMillan, a question I've had from a lot of listeners is when can they get the flu vaccine and my memory was maybe, two weeks after you've had your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Is that about the time?

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

That's - well done, Neil, that's right. So, what we're saying and giving the advice is that you should not have your flu vaccine within two weeks of your COVID vaccine. So, with the AstraZeneca, the interval for first dose you have and then it's 12 weeks before you have your second, that's what all the science is telling us is the most effective interval. So, the time and then to get your flu vaccination as well, and we'll see that commence. Some places are advertising it already. But, it's important to know that, of course, those who give you the vaccine will always check that with you before they administer [indistinct] vaccine.

NEIL BREEN:         

Okay. Alison McMillan, well, she's the top nurse in Australia. Thanks so much for joining us on 4BC 

Breakfast and a million now a week, we can produce of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Should get out to us a lot quicker than it has to date, but the program's rolling out and all of us by October. That's the plan. Thanks, Alison.

ALISON MCMILLAN:      

Thanks, Neil.

Contact

Help us improve health.gov.au

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