KARL STEFANOVIC:
Well, we spoke to him just 24 hours ago, now it's full steam ahead for our vaccine rollout as phase 1b was launched yesterday.
ALLISON LANGDON:
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd, joins us now in Canberra. Professor, good to talk to you. We're one day in, how's it going?
MICHAEL KIDD:
One day in, yesterday, hundreds of general practices right across Australia commenced the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. I visited one of the clinics here Canberra, lots of excited people receiving the first dose of their AstraZeneca vaccine. Also spoke to many of our colleagues around the country who are prioritising vaccinating the very elderly members of their patient populations at the moment.
So, it's full steam ahead across the country. Unfortunately, as said yesterday, we have had a number of clinics where deliveries have not been able to be made because of the flooding. So, I'm told that we have had 25 clinics in 20 towns and suburbs that have not yet been able to receive their first doses of the vaccine because of the floods. But obviously, when the floods abate and the roads open, those clinics will start getting their first supplies as well.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Do you have a timeline on that for those anxious people?
MICHAEL KIDD:
No. Look, we're in the hands of the weather at the moment. We've just got to wait and see what happens. Obviously, safety remains the first priority.
ALLISON LANGDON:
Professor, overnight, you would have been encouraged by the news coming out of the US, the AstraZeneca jab - 79 per cent effective in preventing the virus; 100 per cent effective in preventing hospital admissions. Was that a surprise to you?
MICHAEL KIDD:
No. No surprise because it was consistent with the reports which have been coming out from the large studies carried out elsewhere in the world. And also, the real-world experience that we've had with many millions of doses having been delivered to people in the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world as well. But very reassuring to see the 100 per cent protection against serious disease for people receiving the two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and also no evidence of any increased risk of blood clots, which of course was concerning us early last week.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Okay. In terms of the rollout across Australia, can you give us or paint a picture for us on how many vaccinations are happening in different states? Are some states better than others?
MICHAEL KIDD:
So, I can't give you exact figures for each state today. We're- hopefully, we'll have some more details later in the week, state by state. But the reports that we're receiving is that the rollout is happening evenly right across the country.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Right.
MICHAEL KIDD:
As you know, with the initial rollout, the initial 1000 general practices, we've been very careful to make sure that we have as equitable distribution as we can - not only by state and territory, but also to rural areas as well as to urban areas right across Australia.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Any side effects at all being reported?
MICHAEL KIDD:
So, no specific side effect reporting that I've seen in the last 24 hours. However, everyone who does experience a side effect, we get those details reported through to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and they have a regular update on the side effects which are being seen. But I haven't had any reports of any serious side effects over the last 24 hours.
ALLISON LANGDON:
All right. Professor, thanks for your time this morning. Good to hear that day one went pretty seamlessly.
KARL STEFANOVIC:
Thank you, Professor.
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