Dan Andrews jabs at federal government about Pfizer unhelpful

Daniel Andrews complaints about Pfizer supply won’t help us reach our vax rate faster, but cutting the time between doses would.

By next week, 80 per cent of Victorians over 16 will have had at least one jab.

The state government’s road map expects it will take until November 5 to convert that into 80 per cent who are fully vaccinated. The only way to accelerate this — something we are all desperate to see — is to reduce the time between Pfizer doses administered in state hubs.

According to Daniel Andrews, this is not an option right now.

“I have to ration Pfizer because I do not have enough,” the Premier said on Thursday.

Here’s a bold prediction: at some point very soon, Andrews will suddenly find a way to bring forward second Pfizer doses from six weeks apart.

As the NSW experience shows, once a state delivers first doses to 80 per cent of those eligible, the first-dose rate begins to slow as fewer unvaccinated people come forward, freeing up more jabs for second doses.

Shortening the time between Pfizer doses would help Victoria reach 80 per cent double dosed faster. Picture: Getty Images

This is complicated slightly by the need to vaccinate kids as well, but that should be offset by the massive increase in doses coming to Victoria — 3 million of Pfizer and Moderna in October, compared to 1.7 million in September.

There has been some doubt about Pfizer’s delivery schedule for the second half of next month, prompting Andrews to warn of supply shortfalls. While his caution in counting on doses he does not have is understandable, Pfizer has been a reliable partner throughout the rollout, delivering on time and in full.

More transparency from federal authorities about anticipated and delivered shipments would help alleviate any concerns — a criticism that has held true for months.

That said, the Premier’s rhetoric isn’t helping anyone get vaccinated any faster.

If he feels he cannot reduce the Pfizer interval, Andrews could tell Victorians who received their first dose in a state hub to try their GP, where they can get their second in three weeks.

And instead of focusing so heavily on the performance of the hubs — which has been excellent — Andrews could push harder for kids to get Moderna from pharmacies.

Next week, the state government will receive 167,190 Pfizer doses, with 205,290 the week after and then 234,540 after that. In the next 48 hours, the numbers will be confirmed for the remainder of October, and the federal government is confident supplies will remain consistent.

These increases time perfectly for Andrews to reduce the Pfizer second-dose window. Don’t be surprised when he does.

Originally published as Dan Andrews jabs at federal government about Pfizer unhelpful