More Pfizer Covid-19 are expected in August, as national cabinet moves to make jabs compulsory for FIFO workers

Australia is set to secure more doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 jab than expected in coming weeks thanks to high-level negotiations with the manufacturer.

Australia is set to secure more doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 jab than expected in coming weeks, amid ongoing high-level negotiations between the federal government and the vaccine manufacturer.

National cabinet was expected to discuss the vaccine rollout at its meeting on Friday afternoon, where a decision about mandatory vaccinations for FIFO, aviation and disability workers could be made.

Australia was originally slated to receive 700,000 Pfizer jabs a week by the end of July and into August, with supplies increasing to 2m doses a week in October.

But as state leaders increasingly cry out for more vaccine supply to meet demand, both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed they were confident more Pfizer than originally planned would arrive in August.

It’s understood 1m Pfizer jabs a week will now arrive in the last two weeks of July with more in August.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addresses the media during a press conference at Kirribilli House on July 08, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“We’ll have confirmation in the coming days, but we’re quietly working behind the scenes every single day (with Pfizer) to ensure that, and that’s beginning to bear fruit,” Mr Hunt said.

Mr Morrison did not specify how much more vaccine could be expected, citing “commercial arrangements”.

The Prime Minister also announced 300,000 vaccine doses, half Pfizer and half AstraZeneca, would be “brought forward” for New South Wales as the state battles an ongoing outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant.

He said the expedited doses for NSW would not impact the allocations of other states and territories.

It’s understood Queensland’s request for the delivery Pfizer jabs be expedited was approved on Thursday evening, with the state’s weekly 64,350 to be doubled for next week.

Mr Morrison also announced the asset test limiting who can access weekly payments of up to $500 for losing work hours during a Covid-19 lockdown will be waived once a lockdown hits three weeks.

Mr Morrison, concerned about lower than average vaccine coverage for those 70 or older in southwestern Sydney, said people in the age group should considered getting their second AstraZeneca jab about 8 weeks after their first dose instead of the standard 12.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration allows the second AstraZeneca jab to be given as soon as four weeks after the first dose, but studies show the level of protection against Covid-19 drops when the second dose is given earlier than the usual 12 weeks.

Immunologist Professor Robert Booy said while the trade-off was earlier protection for less effectiveness, the risk of “imminent danger” of contracting Covid-19 — like in Sydney’s ongoing outbreak — should be considered.

National cabinet will also discuss a paper prepared by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee on alternative quarantine arrangements for vaccinated Australians.