REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Are you chomping at the bit to get a booster shot? Because some people haven't even had their first jab. What did Craig and Loretta say? Still 100,000 people identified by the Queensland COVID-19 vaccine rollout chief? And that's despite the fact that the window to be fully vaccinated by the time borders open on December 17- it's arrived, it's closed, right? So if you haven't got your vaccine now, technically you won't be protected by the time December 17 rolls around. Of course, authorities still want you to get jabbed. But while Queensland focuses on hitting the 80 per cent double vaccinated target, the Federal Government has already turned its attention to booster shots. Officially, the booster programme starts on the 8th of November. Lieutenant General John Frewen is the National COVID Task Force Coordinator. Good morning.
JOHN FREWEN:
Hi Rebecca, how are you?
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Well, thank you. Who can receive a booster shot from November 8?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, look, anyone who has had six months since their second dose will be able to come forward and get a booster shot.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Is there any kind of priority, any queuing in that booster shot rollout?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, look, so this time around, we don't have the same supply challenges where we've got to phase people in. And, of course, we did phase people in a- sort of, the high-risk people came first. So this time around, it's really just, once you're six months from your second shot, you can come forward. But of course, the people who will be due early on will be those who were most vulnerable right up front.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Yes.
JOHN FREWEN:
So people in aged care, some of the frontline health workers and so on.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Will a booster shot be required in order to meet that definition of fully vaccinated?
JOHN FREWEN:
No. Look, the policy is, at the moment, that the first two doses are what's most important about vaccinations once you've got those first two doses, then you are fully vaccinated. Booster shots- the science is still evolving around booster shots and- but they're a bit of a top up on the first two doses. But it's those first two doses that offer the vast majority of the protection that you get.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Lieutenant General John Frewen, do you want all Australians to receive a booster shot?
JOHN FREWEN:
Look, we certainly encourage everybody to do that. It's about having the maximum possible protection. But as you sort of were alluding to there, Rebecca, what we're still most focused on is getting everybody vaccinated in the first instance. So people- it's going really well nationally. We're, you know, getting up towards 90 per cent of people have had first dose. We're getting up towards 80 per cent nationally. This week, we'll probably tick over 80 per cent of the nation are fully vaccinated. Queensland's been a bit slow off the mark, but it's- you're picking up pace up there now, which is great. You're getting up towards 80 per cent first dose. But there's still people who clearly haven't made the decision to get around to getting vaccinated yet. So I'd really encourage them to do so and, as you did mention, it's six weeks to full protection, when you go through the first dose, second dose, and then a couple of weeks to let the vaccines take effect. So really, if you want to be ready now for when the state potentially opens up, it's- this week is the best time to go.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
You're listening to Lieutenant General John Frewen, the National COVID Task Force Coordinator. You say Queensland's been a little bit slow. Others would go further, to the extent that people are literally being spoon-fed vaccinations. You go to the zoo; you can get one. You go to the beach; you can get one. You go to a theme park, and some people still then can't be bothered. Are you worried about Queensland?
JOHN FREWEN:
Oh, look, we're focused on all the areas around the country where there are sort of gaps between the national rates, and we're looking into those reasons. You know, bit of it's sometimes hesitancy, and we understand why people want to make a properly informed decision. There has been some misinformation that's been really unhelpful in feeding some of that hesitancy. But there is complacency in other areas as well, and I totally get that in areas where there haven't been outbreaks, and people might think this is really a story of the big cities in the south, on the east coast, you know. But it isn't. And when the nation starts to open up, Delta would start to move quickly to wherever it finds vulnerability. So the absolute best way to protect yourselves and your communities is to get vaccinated. So again, I'd just encourage everybody who hasn't done so to get out.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Then there will be another group of people who are super keen to get the booster shot. What impact does the booster jab have on your protection from COVID-19?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, look, so the science is still evolving around boosters. We're right at the forefront of the world on starting to open up nationally for boosters. We've got the supply. What the early science is saying is that, you know, we think boosters for some of the elderly and the most vulnerable is probably a good idea to do, you know, soon as you can. For the rest of the population, it will give you a bit of a, you know, a fill up on your protections, but it's not as urgent as getting those first two doses. So we certainly would encourage it, just to get everybody to the best possible level of protection. But, you know, for now, top priority is still getting everybody vaccinated in the first instance.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
But will the government be setting targets for booster shorts?
JOHN FREWEN:
No, at the moment, we're focused on getting people vaccinated. And vaccinating- getting fully vaccinated is what will give you those freedoms, particularly for things like international travel and that. Boosters won't be required for that. But, you know, good to have. We're in a good position with boosters. And people, especially people who have been vaccinated in this sort of latter part of this year, it's something that they can, you know, worry about in the new year when they come due, and they'll be plenty of vaccines available then.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Are you giving Western Australia a gold star? Because they've jumped the gun, they're already making boosters available from today.
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, well, anyone- if the boosters are available, people can get in and get them. So we're getting rolling straight away on the residential aged care facilities and those sorts of things as well. So yeah, it's good. But again, let's get people through the door to get those first set of jabs done as well.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Yeah. Although I can see on my text line already, Lieutenant General, there are people who, like Richard, who's saying: I've got AstraZeneca early this year. I'll be lined up at Christmas. He wants a booster shot for Christmas. What vaccines are available as boosters?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, so look, at the moment, the one vaccine that's put in the approvals to be fully certified as a booster is Pfizer. So Pfizer will be the work horse at the moment. Moderna, we understand, is going through that process now, so we would expect to see Moderna. But for the vast majority of Australians, it will be an mRNA booster, either Pfizer or Moderna. And that's even if you've had AstraZeneca first time round. But AstraZeneca will also be able to be used as a booster in the cases where people might have had an adverse reaction to mRNA and the like. But for the vast majority of people in Australia, it'll be one of the two mRNA vaccines. And for now, it's Pfizer, and we're also in the process of moving Pfizer now into the pharmacies this week. You talked about convenience. We think convenience is- it's a- I mean, it's fantastic to have convenience for vaccination, and we're trying to make sure that it will be as convenient as possible for people to get these boosters as well.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Okay. But there's not going to be a situation where you get your second vaccine and then you book in for a booster automatically. It's going to be a completely different rollout.
JOHN FREWEN:
No, no. When you tick over six months, then you'll be eligible to go on and get it.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
And then it's up to you to be motivated to do that. Just finally, Lieutenant General, when will kids under 12 be able to access vaccines?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah, well there's some progress on that internationally. We're still waiting for the science to be finalised and for vaccines to be approved. As soon as it is possible, we've got plans in place that will make sure it happens as quickly as it can. I think at the moment, it's probably- possibly later this year, but it's probably more likely in the new year. But as soon as it is, then we'll make sure that all of the pathways are open and people can get- the kids in to get the jabs.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Really appreciate your time and the booster news this morning. Thanks so much.
JOHN FREWEN:
Cheers, Rebecca. Good to talk.
REBECCA LEVINGSTON:
Lieutenant General John Frewen, who is the National COVID Taskforce Coordinator.
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