PM must show courage on AstraZeneca

Our PM must show courage on AstraZeneca and challenge the premiers over lockdowns instead of taking the path of least resistance.

The Prime Minister should have plenty of regrets about his handling of the Covid-19 crisis, chiefly the creation of the national cabinet, which has turned into a farce.

National cabinet commitments, agreed to by every state and territory leader, have proved to be about as reliable as a chocolate teapot. State premiers have made a mockery of the announcements, including the one earlier this month that lockdowns would be used “only as a last resort”.

It’s clear that for all states – including NSW, which is now pursuing a ruinous eradication strategy – lockdowns are not seen as the last resort but the only option, even with 75 per cent of over 70s vaccinated with at least one Covid jab. After all, it’s not like one person making the decision to lock down is a cent out of pocket or held accountable for the economic and societal damage or the myriad non-Covid health consequences, including missed cancer screenings and elective surgery backlogs.

State premiers have made a mockery of the national cabinet announcements. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

It’s clear state leaders don’t view lockdowns as the last resort. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison has too often opted for the path of least resistance. He has failed to challenge the premiers over lockdowns or border closures and gave into their demands to halve the number of overseas arrivals.

The PM also failed to override the public health bureaucrats who recommended a slow and steady vaccine rollout. He dutifully repeated the line from his then chief medical officer, and current Health Secretary, Prof Brendan Murphy, about the vaccine rollout not being “a race”.

For the past six months I have been harsh in my criticism of the PM but the notion that he is chiefly responsible for the country’s vaccine hesitancy and the lunacy that sees more than 13 million Australians under stay at home orders is fanciful.

It’s been public health bureaucrats from the experts at the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to the Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young who have undermined public confidence in Covid vaccines, specifically AstraZeneca. Who can forget Dr Young’s alarmist language warning Queenslanders under 40 to avoid the AstraZeneca jab. “I don’t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got Covid, probably wouldn’t die,” Dr Young said.

ATAGI has thus far changed its advice three times for AstraZeneca, with the current recommendation being for over 60s.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young has used alarmist language to warn under-40s to avoid the AstraZeneca jab. Picture David Clark

Can you imagine the unchecked outrage from the ABC, Guardian, Ten and the rest of the activist media if the Prime Minister ignored ATAGI’s recommendations?

It is evident that the PM has tried to persuade ATAGI to change their recommendation and on Wednesday he went public with his appeal. “It’s a constant appeal. I can assure you. It’s a constant appeal that the situation Australia faces should be managed on the balance of risk, as ATAGI has said to me in the past,” Morrison said.

For merely trying to persuade ATAGI the PM was roundly condemned by pundits, the AMA and academics for putting “unfair pressure” on the expert panel. Imagine the reaction if Morrison ignored ATAGI; he would be held personally responsible for each and every mishap associated with AstraZeneca.

Politicians have been reluctant to defy any of the health advice, let alone criticise it, but this week NSW crisis cabinet member Stuart Ayres blasted ATAGI’s panel of experts for promoting vaccine hesitancy.

“ATAGI’s confusing advice has led to less people getting vaccinated, not more,” he said. “Their short-sightedness has increased the risk of death, hospitalisation and sickness from Covid. Changing your advice after an outbreak is like fitting an airbag after a car crash.”

In the current climate it takes a brave politician to make a decision at odds with the “health advice” but it’s time for the PM and state leaders to do just that. The time for courage is now. They’ll face a backlash from the fearmongering media and dial-a-quote experts who’ve found fame in the past 18 months but Australians must go back to living, not just existing.

It’s not about “letting it rip” but developing a proportional, sustainable response where the damage of restrictions is weighed against the cost of increased case numbers.

Originally published as PM must show courage on AstraZeneca