It’s a disgrace if Brett Sutton has been sidelined over politics as vax hubs open

It’s disgraceful if jealousy and politics have sidelined our popular Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton when he's needed most.

Bring back Brett.

Not just today as he gets his own COVID jab, but to lead the state through its entire vaccination rollout.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has been conspicuously missing from the public realm recently, at a time we desperately need him to lead.

If rumours are true and Sutton has been sidelined by petty politicians — jealous of his popularity — just as the COVID vaccine rollout ramps up, it’s nothing short of a disgrace.

In fairness the other side claim Sutton isn’t on the bench, in fact they scoff at the idea and say he’s simply been on well deserved leave.

But whatever the case we must see more of our calm and measured CHO.He gained the respect and trust of Victorians last year as he guided us through the coronavirus crisis and explained why lockdowns, restrictions and face masks were necessary to save lives, and for the state to claw its way back from the crippling pandemic.

For the most part, his professional and authoritative approach reassured and encouraged us to “do the right thing”, even when we had doubts.

If the good doctor said it was true, most Victorians believed him and followed his lead.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton earned the trust of many Victorians. Picture: David Crosling

As concerns swirl over the safety of the AstraZeneca jab and mass vaccination hubs open their door at Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Royal Exhibition Centre and Geelong’s former Ford factory on Wednesday, it is Prof Sutton— not the Acting Premier James Merlino, not our state or federal health ministers and not even our Prime Minister Scott Morrison — who Victorians need to see and hear from.

It is Prof Sutton who is most likely to reassure nervous Victorians that getting the COVID vaccine is safe and ‘the right thing to do’.

And he knows it.

The CHO took to social media on Tuesday to share with his many followers the fact he would be rolling up his own sleeve for the jab on Wednesday.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty.

“Our health services have worked hard to deliver the AstraZeneca vaccine to the highest safety standards,” Prof Sutton wrote.

“The risk of really serious adverse events is rare, which is why I’m getting my vaccination. The best vaccine to get is the one available right now.”

That’s exactly what Victorians need to hear right now, from someone with a medical background, from someone they have grown to trust and, most importantly, from someone who does not have MP attached to their name.

If Prof Sutton really has reached sex-symbol, cult status in Victoria — as is claimed—- it is, at the very least, counterintuitive to sideline him.

There are rumours government officials told Prof Brett Sutton to take a lower profile, so politicians can claim a higher one. Picture: Daniel Pockett.

Why silence the person whose message is the most likely to cut through with ‘the people’, at a time that message really needs to be heard?

In the age of ‘the influencer’, Prof Sutton is (or should be seen as) gold, not a threat.

Mr Merlino has rejected the rumours Prof Sutton was instructed to stay out of the limelight for a while by government officials.

“No, I’m not aware of that all,” he said Tuesday.

Let’s hope that’s true, because the alternative would be everything Victorians have come to hate about politics and our self-serving politicians.

Australia needs as many of its citizens vaccinated now as possible, to further open up our economy and help the country get back on track.

And far, far more importantly, to save the lives of vulnerable members of our community.

If Prof Sutton can help achieve that, the government should be wheeling him out at every opportunity, not asking him to keep his head down.