Scott Morrison: Extra 20 million Pfizer doses coming to Australia

Scott Morrison has revealed more Pfizer doses are coming as he defended AstraZeneca and states agreed to lift more social distancing restrictions.

Scott Morrison has said Australia has secured an extra 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as Australia has now administered 1,077,511 vaccines.

“Through our advance purchase agreement with Pfizer these additional 20 million Pfizer doses means that Australia will now receive a total of 40 million Pfizer doses in 2021,” he said.

“It is anticipated that these additional 20 million doses will be available in quarter four of this year.”

“Australia has entered into four separate agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines and these include agreements with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novavax and COVAX. These agreements now total up to some 170 million doses.”

The company also issued a statement saying it was continuing to have “ongoing constructive discussions” with the Australian government.

“Pfizer is committed to working collaboratively with all governments to support the global public health need for COVID-19.”

Mr Morrison defended the AstraZeneca jab, saying advice given by ATAGI was not a “prohibition” of the vaccine.

“You would be putting yourself at risk, you would be putting yourself at risk if you didn’t get the vaccine, because you would be exposing yourself to the more likely event of a COVID contracted condition that could result in serious illness,” he said.

“So COVID is a much greater threat by a factor many, many times over than the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“The most vulnerable people in our community are not just over 50, they are actually a lot older than that.

“The AstraZeneca vaccine is well suited to address those critical vulnerable groups.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Greg Hunt during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Health Minister Greg Hunt said for those who may be immuno-compromised or front-line workers who are under 50, they are working with the States and Territories and the medical authorities to revise that part of the program so as they have access to Pfizer.

“That will take time. We recognise that as those Pfizer doses become available but we are working on that front. Then as we move into phase 2A, that itself is also focused on the over 50s and over 60s and their access to AstraZeneca remains unchanged,” he said.

Secretary of the Department of Health Dr Brendan Murphy said he still has full cinfidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 50.

“I have had it, I would take it again and recommend it to any of my family,” Dr Murphy said.

Australia’s biggest health company CSL has also said it “remains committed” to fulfilling its contract with the federal government to produce 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, despite health advisers warning Australians under 50 not to get the jab.

Dr Murphy said the extra Pfizer doses will not affect GPs and pharmacists vaccinating people.

“The GP program continues,” he said.

“The GPs, are vaccinating over 50s, over 70s and 80s. They need the vaccine, we’re providing the vaccine, they’re turning up to get vaccinated. The GP program right through 1A and 1B will continue as it is,” he said.

Brendan Murphy during a late press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

“As we get to 2A, there’s people over 50 and over 60 who will also be able to go to their GPs to get vaccinated.

“It’s true we planned in phase two to rollout pharmacies. We’re looking at how we’ll do that now.

“We need to recalibrate to see how we may get more Pfizer and how we deal with the under 50 as we get to phase 2B.”

Dr Murphy said: “What we need CSL to do now, is to continue to churn out AstraZeneca. We need this vaccine in significant quantities to protect our over 70s and 80s.

“We need to finish that program. We’ll work with CSL as we work out planning to see what production rate they need to keep up over the coming year. Now, in terms of Novavax, sure, CSL can only make one vaccine at a time.”

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said vaccine consent forms will be made available today.

“One of the key ones is the consent process so one of the recommendations from ATAGI was to make sure that that informed consent process was absolutely and totally informed by this new information and so that will be available today,” he said.

Earlier, he said “nothing is off the table” to help fix the nation’s vaccine supply shortfall.

Prof Kelly suggested that the government was even considering a deal with Moderna to redress vaccine shortfalls.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

He also called on Australians to maintain confidence in the vaccination rollout.

“Of course something like the announcements overnight can affect vaccine confidence,” he said.

“But the important thing is for the Australian public to know that as soon as we’ve known something, as soon as our expert advice from the ATAGI group gives us the guidance on immunisation, we went out and informed the public.

“We’ve made this preference for not using AstraZeneca in the under 50s on the basis of that safety concern but I would really urge people to make sure that they are lining up when it’s their turn.”

Mr Morrison met with the states and territories today to talk about how Australia’s vaccine rollout will continue with supply gaps after new advice on the usage of the AstraZeneca jab.

Flanked by Prof Kelly, Dr Murphy and Mr Hunt last night, Mr Morrison accepted new medical advice that Australians under the age of 50 should preferably get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly speaks to media. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

The Prime Minister also said the states and territories agreed to adopt the AHPPC advice of easing restrictions which include:

*Venues adopt the one per 2sm rule, and no stricter

*Agree to adopt the AHPPC advice that large, ticketed and seated gatherings can have 100 per cent capacity

*They agreed to prioritise local containment measures and aim for outbreak responses that keep internal borders open was agreed

STATES ALTER VACCINE RULES

Already, NSW Health said the government is temporarily pausing the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine to all age groups while it updates its informed consent information.

However, AstraZeneca vaccinations for those aged 50 years and over are set to recommence later on Friday, after the informed consent information is updated.

West Australia’s government has banned anyone under the age of 50 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Victorians under 50 are being turned away from vaccination hubs until official advice is given.

WA Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said that from Friday, AstraZeneca vaccinations will only be given to those over 50.

“People under 50 who are booked in to receive their AstraZeneca vaccine will have their appointments cancelled,” he said in a statement.

People in the 1a and 1b vaccination program - including health workers - who are under 50 and have already received their first AstraZeneca vaccine, should “not be alarmed” and get their second jab.

“You should not cancel your second vaccination booking,” Dr Robertson said.

AUSTRALIA’S ADVICE CHANGES FOR UNDER 50s

After the EU regulator found the AstraZeneca jab was linked to “rare but serious blood clots”, the UK revised its advice and will not be giving the vaccine to younger people.

At a late-night press conference in Canberra, Prof Kelly said the Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI) had advised younger Australians, who have not yet received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, should get the alternative jab: Pfizer.

Australians aged over 50 will continue to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, which the medics described “highly effective”.

“Immunisation providers should only give a first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to adults under 50 years of age where benefit clearly outweighs the risk for that individual’s circumstances,” he said.

“People that have had their first dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca without any serious adverse events can safely be given their second dose. This includes adults under the age of 50, and people who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels after their first dose of COVID-19 AstraZeneca should not be given the second dose.”

Mr Hunt said more than 996,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been given on Thursday and the government is expected to reach its first one million dose milestone soon.

TGA MAKES IT EASIER TO DELIVER PFIZER VACCINE

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has agreed to make it easier to store and transport the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Australia – as health experts around the countries decide the future of the embattled AstraZeneca jab.

The TGA has today approved the storage and transportation of unopened vials of the vaccine at domestic freezer temperature levels of -25 degrees to -15 degrees Celsius for up to two weeks.

This marks a major improvement in the logistics of managing the vaccine which was previously required to be stored at “ultra-cold” temperatures.

A temperature between -90 degrees and -60 degrees Celsius will still be required for longer term storage.

“Vials stored or transported in this manner can also be returned to ultra-cold longer-term storage within the original shelf life of the product,” a statement read.

The TGA added that unopened vials can also be stored for up to five days at domestic refrigerator levels between 2 degrees and 8 degrees Celsius.

“Within this five-day period, up to 12 hours may be used for transportation,” the TGA advised.

“But the time used for transport of unopened vials at refrigerator temperatures counts against the five day limit for storage at 2°C to 8°C.”

The vaccine cannot be refrozen once it has been thawed.

The TGA added that the vaccine is diluted with saline prior to administration and the diluted vaccine can be stored or transported at room temperatures of up to 30 degrees for up to six hours.

Originally published as Scott Morrison: Extra 20 million Pfizer doses coming to Australia