Why Pfizer vaccines are being wasted due to bungles

A new high-volume vaccination centre has been announced for Melbourne. It comes amid revelations bungles with the Pfizer vaccine mean the jabs are being wasted.

A new high-volume vaccination centre will open in Melbourne’s bustling southeastern suburbs early next week.

Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio announced the Cranbourne Racecourse in Cranbourne would be transformed into a new vaccination hub from Tuesday.

“Cranbourne is a massive area in terms of population,” she said.

“We believe that it is well situated to make it as easy as possible for people to get to in those larger population areas.

“The easier we make it for people to get to a vaccination centre, the more likely we are to see the smooth and rapid rollout of vaccination right across our state.”

Minister D’Ambrosio wasn’t able to provide details on how or why the particular site was chosen but said the centre was in a “really good” location.

She urged people to book ahead to secure their dose, but said the site would also be taking walk ins.

It joins existing high-volume vaccination hubs at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, the former Ford Factory in Norlane near Geelong, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, the Sunshine Hospital at St Albans and the Mercure Hotel in Ballarat.

There have been 15,509 vaccines administered since Sunday, but that figure does not include shots given on Friday.

PFIZER VACCINES BEING TOSSED IN THE BIN

Precious doses of Pfizer vaccines are still being wasted under the federal government’s rollout, with issues remaining in delivery and storage of the valuable vials.

Insiders working in the program have warned of multiple issues that mean clinics are regularly under or oversupplied, sparking a mad race to vaccinate as many people as possible.

Pfizer vaccines can only be used in the five days since they are unpacked and thawed and this has created headaches for staff working to deliver the jab.

In some cases, doses are being delivered on a Monday after being opened four days earlier and authorities are left racing against time to stop them going in the trash.

Shipments have also been known to arrive late or not at all.

Pfizer vaccines costs about $24 a dose compared to $4 for Astra Zeneca. Picture: AFP

Clinics have also complained they have no idea exactly how many doses they will get until they have already arrived, creating a nightmare in organising the rollout for aged care homes, Aboriginal services and vulnerable or disability facilities who need it most.

Pfizer vaccines costs about $24 a dose compared to $4 for Astra Zeneca.

A federal Department of Health spokesman said the Commonwealth was redesigning the vaccine program with the states and changes were expected to improve the rollout.

These include a mass vaccination plan for Pfizer doses and allowing some state and territory sites to use both vaccines from a single location.

“The Commonwealth is working closely with our logistics partners, including incorporating the staff of our logistic partners within the Vaccine Operations Centre to ensure vaccines are delivered in accordance with the delivery timelines,” the spokesman said.

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