KARL STEFANOVIC:
More now on Australia's historic COVID fight back. In the last few moments the first frontline workers in Sydney and Melbourne have started receiving the coronavirus vaccine.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Let's bring in Deputy Chief Medical Officer now, Professor Michael Kidd, from Canberra. Professor, good morning to you. Happy V-Day. How excited are you this morning?
MICHAEL KIDD:
Look, I can't tell you. I'm very excited. This is a really important milestone in our nation's battle against the COVID-19. It just wonderful to see those images of our frontline quarantine workers, border workers, and frontline health care workers lining up to get their shot, their first shot of two. And of course, during this week, we'll also be rolling out the vaccine to residential aged care facilities and disability care facilities in 190 suburbs and towns right across the country. So, it's the first step. Of course it is going to run out until October. So Day 1, but great to see it happening at last.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
I guess everyone is going and seeing all of these images going, righto, next week I am going to get a vaccine. But the reality is it's not going to be like that. When does mainstream Australia get to have the vaccine?
MICHAEL KIDD:
Well of course, it relies- we're depending on the supplies of vaccine coming into the country, but we are anticipating either from the end of next month or from- during April that we'll start rolling out through general practices right across the country to the over 70s and over 80s; to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55; to the people with significant, chronic health conditions or a disability that puts them at increased risk; to the rest of our healthcare workers right across the country; and, a number of really other important workers who need to be protected; and, then the rest of us will be vaccinated progressively between then and October according to our age.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Okay. So at this stage, sometime in April for Phase 2 to begin for the over 70s and the over 80s?
MICHAEL KIDD:
That's most likely, but it does depend on the arrival of further shipments of vaccine into the country, and of course the successful roll-out of the on shore production of the vaccine by CSL which we are expecting to happen in the second half of March.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
And if you have the vaccine, you won't get COVID?
MICHAEL KIDD:
If you have the vaccine, of course you need two shots to get the full protection benefit from the vaccine, it will be very effective in preventing people from developing severe disease if they contract COVID-19. It doesn't mean that people can't still be infected. It may be that some people will still get infected, and have asymptomatic infection, and be able to transmit COVID to other people. And that's why it's so important that everybody line up and get the vaccine so everybody is being protected.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Professor, when or how will people know if and when they are eligible? Will there will be some kind of text message service to alert you? Or will the onus be on the individual to find that information out?
MICHAEL KIDD:
Well, it'll come out in a number of ways. Of course we will be talking about when we move to the next phase and people are able to start preparing to get the vaccine, people who are in that particular priority group. We have the health.gov.au website which has a resource where you can put in your details and find out when it will be your turn; and the national booking system will be available there as well for people to find out where the vaccine is being distributed in your local geographic area, and whether it is your turn as yet. And of course people, once the vaccine is rolling out through general practice, people's general practice will reach out to many people and say, look, we've got the vaccine, you're over 70, you're over 80, it is time to get your shot.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
But there are people who are obviously going to need two of these - they'll be getting their second one over the next couple of months before the rest of the country get their first, right?
MICHAEL KIDD:
Well, it'll roll-out in a phased approach, so it'll be overlapping. Everybody requires two doses of the Pfizer vaccine delivered between three and four weeks after the first dose, and everybody will receive- will require two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and that one will be delivered about 12 weeks after the initial dose. So when you go and get your vaccine, you'll be advised when to come and get the second dose - you'll get either a card or an electronic reminder telling you when to come and get your second dose. Very important that everybody gets the two doses because that provides the sustained protection against COVID-19.
SYLVIA JEFFREYS:
Professor, we saw crowds of COVID deniers and anti-vaxxers out and about protesting the roll-out over the weekend. What is your message to those people?
MICHAEL KIDD:
Well firstly, the great majority of Australians are very keen to get this vaccine - We know that from the research which is being carried out across the country. Some people are still feeling hesitant about the vaccine. My message to everybody is these vaccines are safe and effective; they've been thoroughly and rigorously assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. And so, when it does come to be your turn, please, do what I'm going to do, roll up, roll up your sleeve, get your shot.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
And the efficacy on these things is quite exceptional. And I think the Pfizer one is at 89 point something per cent. It's quite remarkable medicinal work that's gone into all of this, so have faith in it. Good on you, Doctor- Professor, rather. Thank you for your time today. Appreciate it. Happy V-Day.
MICHAEL KIDD:
Thank you.
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