Questions raised over the decision to prioritise vaccinating the elderly against coronavirus
As plans for a coronavirus vaccine rollout ramp up, an expert is calling for a different demographic to be first in line to get it.
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Special eskies will be used to store life-protecting coronavirus vaccines as part of a rollout slated to begin in March, as experts question the plan to vaccinate the elderly first.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration this week gave the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines a preliminary green light after “very promising” data from clinical trials.
The federal government is working to finalise a plan that would see the most vulnerable Australians, including frontline workers, vaccinated first.
It will be discussed at national cabinet later this week, as pharmaceuticals companies continue to make progress with Pfizer reporting 90 per cent efficacy.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was confident both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines were on track for approval in January after the TGA pre-approved the jabs.
“It essentially expedites the process and brings critical medicines, or vaccines, at a faster rate then would otherwise be the case but with an absolute premium on safety,” Mr Hunt said.
“We are on track to deliver vaccines to Australians commencing in March of 2021.”
TGA Head John Skerritt said it was still unclear how long the doses could protect people for, and if the jabs could have adverse affects on any parts of the population.
“We still don’t know if these vaccines provide six months, 12 months, five years’ lifetime protection. No one in the world knows,” Prof Skerritt said.
“And we also don’t know what populations they’re suitable for yet so that information comes through in the months and years even after a vaccine is approved.”
The TGA expects to receive more clinical trial information next month.
The world-first mRNA vaccine created by Pfizer’s will be transported to and around Australia in “sophisticated eskies” to maintain a constant minus 70C.
While elderly have been slated as among the first to receive jabs, some experts have warned their ageing immune systems mean they may not respond well.
Immunisation Coalition chair Dr Rod Pearce Pearce said young people should be considered to get the first doses.
“There is a point of view that says we should actually be vaccinating 20 to 40 year olds, maybe before we do the elderly, because someone with long term COVID-19 at 20 has got more long term risk than someone older who might only have life expectancy of five or so years,” Dr Pearce told News Corp.
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