‘Enough supply’ but Victoria refuses to cut Pfizer jab gap

The state government has refused to cut the time between Pfizer doses despite federal health chiefs assuring there is more than enough to fast-track the jabs.

Victoria’s vaccination hubs will receive 529,800 Pfizer doses in the last two weeks of October, the biggest fortnight of the rollout, but the state government is still refusing to immediately fast-track second jabs that could see an earlier end to lockdown.

The Herald Sun can reveal 264,900 doses will be sent to the state hubs in both weeks, which federal health chiefs say is more than enough to deliver second Pfizer doses three weeks apart instead of six.

But Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley is still stalling, saying the state didn’t have “final confirmation of that last week of October” to reduce the interval between jabs.

Meg Parsons gives the jab to Ali Fahour, 16, as his aunt Wafa Fahour watches on. Picture: Alex Coppel

While GPs are administering Pfizer doses three weeks apart, Victoria’s hubs increased the interval to six weeks to give more people their first jab during the state’s latest outbreak.

But with the state’s reopening tied to double-dose vaccination rates, and a record supply of Pfizer flowing to hubs, the state government is under increasing pressure to reduce the interval to bring forward those milestones.

Victorian GP clinics will also receive 396,656 Pfizer doses every week of October, offering an alternative for people who want to get their second shot more quickly.

Federal Health Department secretary Professor Brendan Murphy said on Tuesday the state government had sufficient supply to deliver Pfizer jabs with a three-week interval, instead of six.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt agreed, but said the decision was a matter for the Andrews government.

“There is enough supply for every person in Victoria, 100 per cent of people 12 and up, to be double vaccinated before the end of October,” he said.

It comes after Mr Foley claimed the state only had “a range” in terms of supply for the last week of next month, as he indicated Victoria was focused on providing the “first ring of protection” before ­accelerating second doses.

“As soon as we get to that point of protection, then the scheduling of the second dose might well be able to be brought forward,” he said.

After last week saying ­reducing the interval wasn’t currently possible, Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said: “We’re certainly looking at that. And if we can reduce that dose interval, that will mean we get more people through the gateway, that second dose gateway, that will give us more options.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt says the decision is a matter for the Andrews government. Picture: Wayne Taylor

National vaccine rollout chief Lieutenant General John Frewen told a Senate committee that Pfizer had experienced some “global management issues” which had delayed confirmation of its full October delivery schedule, before it was locked in last Friday.

He said Australia would receive less than expected in the first half of October but added: “We have no reason to believe that Pfizer won’t make up for amounts across the month of October.”

Mr Foley said he was pleased to see extra doses sent to GPs, but the state government also wanted more jabs to administer through mass hubs.

“There is a big responsibility for GPs and primary healthcare to step up and deliver in that space and I am confident they will,” he said.

As of Tuesday, 78.69 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 had received their first dose, and 48.42 per cent were fully vaccinated.

General Frewen said that according to federal estimates, Victorian was on track to hit the 70 per cent mark for full vaccination by the end of October, and 80 per cent by the middle of November.

“It’s conceivable that we could get to 90 per cent if the public keep coming forward by the end of November, start of December,” he said. Victoria was tracking ahead of all ­except NSW and the ACT.