Australia’s COVID Vaccine Rollout Schedule

Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout schedule is still on track to be delivered in late February despite supply chain pressures in Europe, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The commencement date for vaccinations in Australia will be finalised in the coming days as the government and medical authorities continue to monitor the unfolding situation in Europe after the EU enacted export bans.

Leaders granted themselves new powers to block coronavirus vaccine shipments to several countries after German-based manufacturer Pfizer warned of shortages.

Morrison on Monday said the first vaccinations for priority groups remained on track for late February despite supply chain pressures in Europe.

“Our aim is to offer all Australians the opportunity to be vaccinated by October of this year, commencing in just a few weeks’ time,” he told the National Press Club in Canberra.

“However, the final commencement date will depend on developments overseas, which we will continue to monitor and update accordingly,” Morrison said.

Australia’s COVID vaccine rollout schedule

Phase 1a is for those who “need protection the most”, including aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers.

There will initially be about 80,000 jabs per week before that number is ramped up as other vaccines are approved.

Phase 1b is a significantly larger rollout in which 6.1 million people including anyone aged over 70, other healthcare workers, younger adults with an underlying condition, and high-risk workers will get a vaccine. It also includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are over 55.

Phase 2a covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are between 18-54, along with Australians over 50 years old and other critical high-risk workers.

Phase 2b is the rest of the adult population, plus anyone from the previous phases that have been missed out. This includes those aged 16 to 18.

Phase 3 will see children under 16 given the jab, but only “if recommended” as evidence currently shows that they don’t transmit COVID-19 like adults.

AstraZeneca vaccine due for onshore production in March

Up to 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are due in Australia from overseas in March, while 80,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be available each week from late-February.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd last week confirmed onshore production of AstraZeneca would begin in March subject to approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“These projections already take into account the global supply challenges for both Pfizer and AstraZeneca, and the European regulatory proposals,” Kidd said.

What will Australia’s vaccination rollout mean for restrictions?

Prime Minister Morrison said the vaccination rollout would not immediately lead to a relaxation of restrictions around international travel, social distancing, or masks.

“This will build, it will start at a small scale, it will build up and it will happen over a period of time as we have outlined over the course of this year,” he said.

“Of itself, it is not a silver bullet because there are still limitations to what these vaccines can do.”

I guess we just should wait and see without making any assumptions.