Containing virus half the battle as rollout draws fire

Having declared victory in containing the COVID-19 pandemic spread domestically, the federal government is still fighting to win the peace. Scott Morrison and his Health Minister, Greg Hunt, are faced with worrying trends overseas and high expectations at home. Their challenge is to present a calm and professional front while dealing with issues that are either unexpected or outside their control. Domestic politics will ensure it will not be an easy task. In question time on Wednesday, the opposition made clear it had surrendered any notion of bipartisan support for the vaccine rollout. Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler asked the Prime Minister why the government was able to co-ordinate the publicity for the next phase of the vaccine rollout but not the delivery. The question followed complaints that some elderly were finding it difficult to make appointments for vaccination against the COVID-19 virus with their GPs. The answer is that vaccinations will only become possible from Monday and GPs are wanting to ensure they have guaranteed supplies before scheduling appointments. Mr Morrison accused the opposition of failing the test of national unity in seeking to undermine confidence in the national vaccine program.

With winter approaching and a worrying deterioration in the situation immediately to our north in Papua New Guinea, the government must quickly demonstrate that it is on top of things. The approach must be to remain open and transparent about what is happening regarding vaccine delays and with reported concerns about the safety of vaccines being raised overseas. Mr Morrison gave clear details of the problem of supplies from Europe when he said only 700,000 doses had been delivered from an order of 3.8 million. Europe is also at the heart of safety fears over the AstraZeneca vaccine. This week, France, Germany and Italy became the latest in a growing list of European countries to announce that they were temporarily halting the use of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm, because of concerns over blood clots. Australia has elected not to pause its vaccination program. Australia’s chief scientist, Cathy Foley, says she has full faith in the AstraZeneca vaccine and the European Medical Agency says it remains firmly convinced that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.

The results of urgent studies this week are expected to show that the number of blood clots in vaccinated people is no higher than the number seen in the general population. Results from clinical trials have shown fewer than 1 per cent of those who reported reactions went on to suffer serious illness. Of those who did, more had been given a placebo rather than the vaccine. The rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe has become enmeshed in the bigger regional politics over Brexit. Mr Morrison has appealed to Europe to release more doses of the vaccine ordered by Australia so they can be used to assist in the deteriorating situation in Papua New Guinea. Australia has responded quickly to help PNG and reinforced quarantine and other health measures in northern Australia to help prevent any cross-border transmissions between the countries.

The government is hoping that a ramp-up in domestic production of the AstraZeneca vaccine will help to put things back on track. With traditional cold and flu season approaching, Australia needs to get supply lines moving quickly to ensure a smooth rollout through GPs. The high rate of inquiry for a vaccine injection shows that demand, and therefore confidence in the vaccine, is still strong in the community. Given that broad coverage is needed for the vaccine to be effective, ensuring this remains the case is a top priority. The opposition is right to hold the government to account on its vaccine promises but must be careful not to unnecessarily undermine confidence in the program for purely political gain.