Premiers in vax wars, as PM urges us to ‘lean into AstraZeneca’

Queensland has joined other states in rejecting a request from NSW to hand over vaccine supplies, as the Prime Minister unveils a new war cry to inspire Aussies to get vaccinated.

Premiers went to war over Covid vaccine supplies in a “lengthy and extensive” national cabinet, following Sydney declaring its Delta outbreak a national emergency.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meanwhile urged Australians to “lean into AstraZeneca”, saying it’s time to “get vaxxed, baby”.

There was a swift rebuke to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian who made a plea for a “refocus” of the vaccine rollout and called for doses to be redirected to the worst impacted parts of Sydney.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia needs to “lean into AstraZeneca”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles rejected the idea saying Queensland had “meagre” supplies of Pfizer to spare, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would not be giving up any “Victorian vaccines”.

After an extended national cabinet lasting more than two hours, Mr Morrison revealed NSW request had been shutdown and the state would not get additional jabs from other jurisdictions.

“We’re not going to disrupt the vaccination program around the rest of the country,” he said.

“We need to keep going and ensuring people are going out there and getting those vaccines.”

Mr Morrison would not reveal whether he supported the NSW Premier’s position.

Head of the government’s national Covid vaccine taskforce Lieutenant-General John Frewen had earlier told a Senate inquiry any redirection of vaccines from other states would impact the national rollout.

“Vaccination underpins the national resilience to Covid,” he said.

“It is not the best way to provide an immediate health response to an outbreak like this.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was unable to attend while in Tokyo for the Olympic Games and instead was represented by director-general Rachel Hunter.

Mr Miles, who was not at the meeting, said Queensland would not be able to redirect its Pfizer doses.

“The number of Pfizer vaccines that we have in Queensland is so meagre,” Mr Miles said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles says Queensland’s supply of Pfizer vaccines is meagre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

As states continue to back themselves, Mr Andrews gave the strongest push back against NSW’s plea.

“I’m not going to have Victorian vaccine go to NSW so they can be opened while we’re closed,” he said.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said he was “not prepared to give over” any Pfizer.

But, Mr Morrison said there was widespread agreement in the national cabinet that the nation should “lean into Astrazenca”.

“It is licenced and approved for all ages, with informed consent for under 60s,” he said.

“If you’re vaccinated you’re less likely to transmit, you’re less likely to get the virus, you’re less likely to get serious disease and you’re less likely to suffer a fatality.

“Whether it’s AstraZeneca or it’s Pfizer, both of those are important.

“As (radio host) Kyle Sandilands said, ‘get vaxxed, baby’.”

He also indicated the proposal for the Queensland quarantine facility at Pinkenba remained at the feasibility assessment stage.

The proposed purpose-built facility at the Damascus Barracks would be able to hold up to 1450 returning international travellers.

A review of hotel quarantine has been commissioned and is due by the end of September.