EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW:
In some breaking news this morning, Australia's race to get vaccinated has hit a new high. Victoria is opening up half a million Pfizer jabs for people aged over 16 and 830,000 new bookings are now available. The hotline and website to reserve a spot are now open. And for more, I'm joined by the head of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce, Lieutenant General John Frewen. Good morning to you, John, and thank you for your time. What impact will the availability of Pfizer to 16 to 39 year olds in Victoria have on the rollout?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yes, so look, we've been managing supply very carefully and making sure that we only open up to these cohorts when we think we have adequate supply. But I do ask people to be patient. This is now about being able to join the queue for Pfizer, and anyone who's got bookings for AstraZeneca now, I would sort of urge them to go through with getting whatever vaccine they can right now. But for those who've been waiting for choice, then they can certainly get a booking. But I do urge some patience.
EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW:
Tens of thousands of people have been cancelling their AstraZeneca appointments now that they can get Pfizer. Are you actually confident there will be enough doses if those people cancel their AstraZeneca appointments?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yeah. Again, there's- the supply will be there, it's just about just managing their expectations that they can get the bookings in. But for many of them, it will be some weeks before they can get their Pfizer jabs. But the supply is coming, so we're very confident.
EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW:
New South Wales has hit an impressive milestone in its vaccine rollout. Six million doses, a very promising milestone for the state. But what about doses for regional areas, particularly in Aboriginal communities? How's the rollout going there?
JOHN FREWEN:
Yes. So look, nationally, we are up over 50 per cent for first dosing and 30 per cent of us are now fully vaccinated. It is going a bit slower out in remote regional areas for Indigenous communities. But we're working closely with those communities and the states and territories to make sure that we can help bring those communities along as quickly as we can as well.
EDWINA BARTHOLOMEW:
Alright, John, thank you so much for your time this morning. We know it's a very busy time for you and all of your team.
JOHN FREWEN:
Thanks, Edwina.
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