Vaccines ‘way out’ of restrictions, reluctant pollies warned

Dozens of senior MPs have rolled up their sleeves but a surprising number have refused to say if they have received the vaccine or not.

Nine senior Coalition MPs will not say if they have been vaccinated and several Labor members have been slow to book jab appointments, as ­reluctant pollies are being warned their Covid inoculations are the only ‘way out’ of restrictions.

Politicians aged 50 and over are eligible to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, or register for Pfizer if they are in their 40s in NSW and Victoria.

All Australians aged 50 or over are eligible for the Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Fred Tanneau/AFP

However, a survey of federal frontbench MPs by The Daily Telegraph has found there are still some holdouts despite the overwhelming majority rolling up their sleeves.

The offices of Resources Minister Keith Pitt, Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, Employment Minister Stuart Robert as well as outer ministry members Jane Hume, Zed Seselja, Richard Colbeck and Alex Hawke ­declined to comment on their vaccine status.

It comes after Aged Care Services Minister Mr Colbeck dismissed criticism about the sluggish pace of the rollout – including that not all aged care residents were fully vaccinated yet – as “emotive” during Senate estimates this week.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Labor Senator Kristina Keneally said she was “looking forward to being vaccinated against Covid-19” but that her medical appointments were “confidential”.

The only other eligible Labor frontbencher to not yet have an appointment was Chifley MP Ed Husic, but a spokesman said he was in the process of booking one.

Labor’s Jason Clare has registered his interest in getting the Pfizer vaccine for over 40s. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Of the MPs in NSW who are over 40 and eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, Labor’s Jason Clare, Michelle Rowland and Chris Bowen have all registered interest. Every Greens MP aged over 50 had either received one or two doses, or booked an appointment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was one of the first ­people in the country to ­receive the Pfizer vaccine, and several members of his cabinet, including Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne and Trade Minister Dan Tehan, are understood to have been fully vaccinated due to their need to travel overseas.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt had his vaccine live on television. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Some MPs, including Health Minister Greg Hunt, and Labor leader Anthony Albanese had their vaccines on live television, while many others documented their jabs on social media.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told a Melbourne radio station on Wednesday he was “due” to get his first vaccine next week.

“I didn’t line up at the start, because I thought ‘no, I’ll get it when I’m eligible to do so’,” he said.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon said vaccination was the way to “release” people from pandemic restrictions and decrease the spread of Covid-19.

“Now it’s available for people over 50, I think all those people should be vaccinated.

“The risk of death from Covid-19 if you’re over 70 is about one in 100, but even if you’re 50 it’s about one in 1000,” he said.

“There’s enough data around to show the side ­effects are rare … so the benefits far outweigh the risks.”

Prof Collignon also said the current outbreak in Victoria should be a “wake-up call” for people still dragging their feet.

“We need to promote the vaccine as much as possible, the best defence against outbreaks is to be vaccinated,” he said.

LABOR

Vaccinated

(one or two doses): Anthony Albanese (Pfizer), Richard Marles (AZ), Tony Burke (AZ), Bill Shorten (AZ), Tanya Plibersek (AZ), Jim Chalmers (Pfizer), Catherine King (AZ), Don Farrell (AZ), Mark Dreyfus (AZ), Linda Burney (AZ), Brendan O’Connor (AZ).

Not vaccinated (under 50): Chris Bowen (registered interest), Julie Collins, Amanda Rishworth, Terri Butler, Jason Clare (registered interest), Madeleine King, Michelle Rowland (registered interest).

Not vaccinated (other): Penny Wong (appointment booked), Katy Gallagher (awaiting appointment confirmation), Mark Butler (appointment booked), Ed Husic (planning to book), Kristina Keneally (planning to but would not comment on medical information).

COALITION

Vaccinated

(one or two doses): Scott Morrison (Pfizer),

Josh Frydenberg, Ken Wyatt (AZ), Paul Fletcher (AZ), Marise Payne, Dan Tehan, Peter Dutton (Pfizer), Darren Chester (AZ), Greg Hunt (AZ), Christian Porter (AZ), Angus Taylor (AZ), Alan Tudge, Andrew Gee (AZ), Melissa Price (AZ).

Not vaccinated (under 50): Simon Birmingham, David Littleproud, Michael Sukkar

Not vaccinated (other): Michael McCormack (appointment booked), Anne Ruston (appointment booked), Mark Coulton (appointment booked).

No comment: Keith Pitt, Sussan Ley, Michaelia Cash, Linda Reynolds, Stuart Robert, Jane Hume, Zed Seselja, Richard Colbeck, Alex Hawke.

GREENS

Vaccinated (one or two doses): Adam Bandt (Pfizer), Janet Rice (AZ), Jordon Steele-John, Mehreen Faruqi, Rachel Siewert (AZ), Peter Whish-Wilson (AZ).

Not vaccinated (under 50): Larissa Waters, Sarah Hanson-Young, Lidia Thorpe.

Not vaccinated (other): Nick McKim (AZ appointment booked).