Australia set to overtake the United States for Covid vaccinations

It seems almost unbelieveable, but Australia is set to overtake the United States for a key Covid statistic, showing just how incredible our progress has been.

Americans have had access to free and abundant supplies of Covid vaccines for most of this year, yet somehow, Australia is set to surpass the US’s vaccination rate.

Australia, which has struggled with vaccine supply and only this month opened up Pfizer jabs to under 40s, looks likely to overtake the United States this week.

Around 63.5 per cent of the total population of the US has had at least one dose of vaccine, compared to around 62 per cent of Australians, according to Our World in Data.

This is despite vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna being available to Americans from January, with all age groups able to get them for free from April.

The rate of vaccination showing first doses for United States (red) and Australia (green). Source: Our World in Data

Australia will surpass the US on vaccination this week. New South Wales already there. pic.twitter.com/GmAjBPwBL0

— Mike Bird (@Birdyword) September 27, 2021

When it comes to second doses, Australia is further behind. About 41 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, compared to 54.6 per cent in the United States.

The rate of vaccination showing second doses for United States and Australia. Source: Our World in Data

While America had a months-long head start, its progress has seemed to stall, inching from 61 per cent of people with at least one dose on September 1, to just 63 per cent on September 26.

This compares to Australia, which jumped from 48 per cent, to 62 per cent.

When it comes to the vaccination of adults, the countries appear to categorise the ages differently, so it’s not easy to compare them.

In Australia, 76 per cent of those aged over 16 have got at least one dose while 52.57 per cent have received a second dose, according to the latest Australian Government figures.

In the United States, it reports figures for those aged 18 and over, showing that 77.1 per cent had one dose, while 66.6 per cent have had two doses, according to the US Centres for Disease Prevention and Control.

The state of New South Wales has already surpassed the US, with 85.7 per cent of over-16s having received one dose, and 60.4 per cent fully vaccinated to midnight on Sunday, September 26.

NSW’s vaccination rates are the highest in Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

US President Joe Biden caused controversy this month when he announced measures to try and improve vaccine uptake including a requirement that all employees of the federal government be vaccinated as well as mandatory jabs for workers in most healthcare settings, including hospitals.

All private employers with 100 or more workers will be required to either ensure their employees are fully vaccinated or make unvaccinated employees produce a negative Covid test result at least once a week. This measure is expected to impact about 80 million workers.

Meanwhile, the head of Australia’s vaccine rollout, Lt General John Frewen, said on Tuesday it was possible 70 per cent of Australian adults could be fully vaccinated by the end of October and up to 90 per cent by the end of November.

The rate of vaccination among OECD countries showing the share of people who have had at least one dose. Source: Our World in Data

However, despite Australia’s impressive progress against the United States, it still ranks at the bottom of the pack of OECD countries, coming 28th out of 38 countries for the percentage of people who have received at least one vaccine dose.

It is beaten by countries like New Zealand (66.65 per cent), Japan (69.02 per cent) and Portugal, which has the highest rate of 87.83 per cent.