‘Forgotten’ Australians outraged over vaccine announcement
Many Australians are hitting out at the government over the handling of the vaccine rollout, citing two big problems.
Susan* is a 65-year-old located in regional New South Wales. She is particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, due to her age and also her weakened immune system, as she suffers from a rare blood condition.
Advised by her doctor not to get the Astra Zeneca vaccination, she has been patiently awaiting word on when she will be able to get Pfizer.
Even if you’re granted an exemption to allow you to get Pfizer, which can be difficult especially for those located outside of Sydney, Susan said there’s still not enough supply to vaccinate all of those with rare conditions who are at higher risk of covid complications.
“It’s about as rare as gold here, to get the exemption for Pfizer and have an appointment set up for it,” she told news.com.au.
Weeks later, as the outbreak spirals out of control, she is still waiting for word on when she can get the jab.
“I have been granted the exemption, but I’m still waiting to hear when a dose will become available for me.
“We are locked down here, the covid cases are growing. It’s ridiculous I can’t get protected.”
And it’s still not known if Sunday’s announcement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, about nabbing an extra million Pfizer vaccinations, will make a difference for vulnerable people like Susan whose lives are particularly at risk if they catch Covid-19.
Mr Morrison enthusiastically declared of the Pfizer boost: “There are a million doses of hope on their way.”
Detailing the exciting news, he said: “An extra one million Pfizer vaccine doses will soon land in Australia after we secured a deal with Poland. These extra doses are on top of the 40 million Pfizer doses we have already secured for 2021.
“It will provide a big shot in the arm to our vaccine rollout.”
RELATED: Aussie teen on life support with covid, other conditions
An extra 1 million Pfizer vaccine doses will soon land in Australia after we secured a deal with Poland.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 15, 2021
These extra doses are on top of the 40 million Pfizer doses we have already secured for 2021. It will provide a big shot in the arm to our vaccine roll-out. pic.twitter.com/CvqrTR6sSo
However, Mr Morrison said most of the extra doses will go to younger Australians aged 20-39 in Sydney covid hotspot areas, leaving people like Susan to wonder if they will benefit at all from the rest of the allocated doses, as they were not prioritised in the announcement.
“The one million doses will be targeted to Australians aged 20 to 39 years of age, who were identified in the Doherty Modelling as the peak transmitters of Covid-19.
“530,010 doses will be prioritised for express delivery to the 12 Greater Sydney Local Government Areas where the Covid-19 outbreak continues to grow, following advice from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly.”
He said this plan will give everyone aged 20-39 years in the 12 LGAs of Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield and Penrith, the opportunity to be vaccinated.
“Within days of landing in Australia, these extra Pfizer doses will be available to go into the arms of young Australians in our hardest hit Covid hot spots.
“These young Australians are often the backbone of our essential workforce and these doses will not only protect them, but their loved ones, their state and our nation.”
The per capita allocation to the remaining states and territories is: Victoria 175,500, Queensland 136,890, South Australia 47,970, Western Australia 70,200, Tasmania 17,550, Northern Territory 8,190, and the ACT 14,040.
“Australia purchased surplus vaccines, which were produced at Pfizer’s Belgium facility, on a not-for-profit basis from the Republic of Poland. These are the same highly safe and effective Pfizer vaccines that are currently being administered in Australia.”
While it’s undoubtably great news that we have more Pfizer doses on the way, ultimately many at risk Australians feel they are being forgotten.
On Mr Morrison’s Facebook page, one concerned Australian wrote: “And for the rest of NSW? There is currently an outbreak in regional NSW.
“Vaccination rates are lower in regional, rural, remote NSW according to figures released just a few weeks ago. Medical facilities are limited. Health vulnerability increased the further from city you are.”
Another wrote: “They only worry about Sydney!”
A third said: “Have you forgotten about the central west in NSW? We now have multiple cases and seemingly will have more over the coming days/weeks. Why are we not getting looked after like Sydney?
“Our hospital won’t cope with massive amounts of very sick covid people while still having to look after the people that are already in hospital. Why do people think Sydney is the only place in NSW?”
Meanwhile on Twitter, others voiced similar opinions.
And more than half of them to go to Sydney.
— David Wild💉AZ💉 (@davidwild66) August 15, 2021
The Prime Minister of NSW strikes again.
*Land in New South Wales. Details matter. You're giving half of all these doses to NSW and the other half to be shared between the rest of the country. How is that not favoritism and rewarding NSW for it's failure Scott?
— JL90 (@Jlvl3890) August 15, 2021
“How many vaccines are going into the vulnerable communities such as Walgett? I hear the remainder will be distributed to other States. From the premier I only hear Sydney Sydney Sydney.”
Others indicated problems with the age groups being prioritised.
“You should have opened from 18 years old – working age – my daughter has to go to work in Sydney and is ineligible – how can that be!” A concerned resident wrote. “Comes in contact with countless people every day.”
Another said: “Will they be available for people 60 and over!? A lot of people hanging off waiting for Pfizer or Moderna!”
Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney has warned of a looming “health disaster” in regional and remote communities, who are very vulnerable.
“Today, Labor is calling on the Government to publish First Nations vaccination rates and availability of supply for First Nations communities,” Burney said.
“... I am absolutely furious. There are 80,000 people in the Western Division – the lockdown LGA and – and the government, both federally and state, are sending out 4000 vaccines. How can you have ignored the potential disastrous situation that is urging in the Western Division?
“I have spoken to people from Walgett and from Bourke this morning, there are no vaccines in that part of the world. The staffing is almost non existent. And there’s only two per cent of people that have been vaccinated.”
She said there is inadequate testing in many towns in the Western Division, so nobody really knows how many covid cases there are.
“How can this be in an area of NSW that is so large, and so populated? 80,000 people. My question is, how is this possible?
“The Aboriginal Medical Services whom I’ve spoken to today, in that part of the world are absolutely worried. And they are desperate for vaccines, and the go ahead to get people vaccinated.
“They don’t have the vaccines, and they don’t have the go ahead.
“ … The issue lies squarely with the Federal Government, these are vulnerable communities who are out there with very low rates of vaccination, high numbers of children, and high numbers of people who are very vulnerable.”
The Project also took aim at the vaccination program on Sunday night, saying it’s been another case of a delayed reaction to the situation.
They featured a quote from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on the new Pfizer doses: “Please know those will be going to good use.
“And that is in addition to the 100,000 we’d already allocated for authorised workers this week.
“ … Yesterday was an absolute wake up call. We can’t stress enough that we don’t want to go down the path of all these other places overseas where they have literally thousands and thousands and thousands of cases every day.”
Meanwhile Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews summed up the situation in Sydney quite well.
“I know some Victorians will ask the question well why are they getting more vaccines than we are,” he said.
“Well nothing else they’re doing is working. They’ve got to vaccinate their way out of this now.”
Nearly two months into NSWs growing Delta outbreak and right on the heels of announcing a state-wide lockdown via Twitter, Premier Gladys Berejiklian is finally having an epiphany. #TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/07uUsiLkMC
— The Project (@theprojecttv) August 15, 2021
Frustrated Project host Lisa Wilkinson said: “I think everyone in NSW yesterday when she (Gladys) said that the day before was a wake-up call, everyone in NSW is. It’s taken you this long to wake up.
“And please premier can you stop looking to overseas as a place to refer to.”
The Project team also called for the government to get ahead of the covid situation, instead of chasing it from behind.
* Name changed upon request.
State’s big move on cutting-edge vaccines
One Aussie state has revealed its next move on a major vaccine development project – which promises to change the way it responds to future health challenges.
Big move as new Covid variants spread
Australians could soon be eligible for two new Covid vaccines, created to protect against new strains of the virus.
New trend emerges in Covid deaths
A clear trend is emerging in Covid deaths and 2024 could mark a significant milestone in the progression of the virus, new data has revealed.