NSW coronavirus: Hunt slams anti-vaxxers for their theories on Bill Gates, 5G

Health Minister Greg Hunt has gone on the offensive against anti-vaxxers after the arrival of 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Anti-vaxxers have been slammed for spreading “ludicrous” theories about Australia’s vaccine rollout on the same day a shipment of 300,000 AstraZeneca doses landed in Sydney.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said: “Some of these anti-vaxxers are peddling false and clearly irresponsible views. Whether it is about 5G and Bill Gates and mind-control … ludicrous, ­ludicrous things.”

Mr Hunt said there had been no sign so far that anti-vaxxers were planning major protests at vaccination centres, while confirming the Department of Home Affairs was in contact with the ­Department of Health to monitor the situation.

Australia hit another milestone in the fight against COVID-19 with the first consignment of AstraZeneca vaccine landing in Sydney on Sunday.

The container holding the AstraZeneca vaccines being taken off the flight at Sydney Airport today. Picture: Edwina Pickles

A shipment of 300,000 doses of the vaccine — a collaboration between Oxford University and the pharmaceutical giant — are now set to be batch tested by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure they meet quality guidelines.

The first doses will be given to priority groups in phase 1a of the rollout.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said if the vaccines cleared the TGA testing process, Australians would start getting it from March 8.

“We will now be able to scale up the vaccination rollout to our priority groups, including our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers,” Mr Morrison said.

“Australia is in a unique position because importantly this vaccine gives us the ability to manufacture onshore.

“Every Australian who wishes to be vaccinated will be able to receive a vaccine this year.”

Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of the vaccines and 50 million of those will be manufactured locally by CSL.

Mr Hunt said Australians would have the opportunity to get their jab through their local GP, respiratory centres and, eventually, pharmacies.

“As the rollout begins, the people in priority groups who need the most protection will receive a vaccine first,” Mr Hunt said.

“This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine and border workers.

“Having AstraZeneca available in Australia provides an easier avenue for distribution across the nation, meaning people in rural, ­regional and remote areas will not have to travel as far to receive their vaccine.

“The cold chain requirements of this vaccine — it can be stored and handled in the same way as any other vaccine — make it a very good candidate for a country like Australia.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she had been “extremely pleased” with how the initial vaccine rollout was progressing but would “appreciate as much information in as timely way as possible” from the federal government about its rollout.

There were no new local COVID cases recorded in NSW on Sunday — the 42nd clear day in a row — from 11,225 tests. Five new cases were recorded in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.