War of words over Pfizer supplies; 766 cases, four deaths

Healthcare workers at a vaccine hub have urged to follow this rule after they were targeted by anti-vaxxers. It comes as the federal and state governments feud over Pfizer supplies.

• This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Tap here for our latest great value offer and instantly access trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader.

Victoria has recorded its biggest coronavirus case spike to date, with 766 new infections emerging overnight.

Four people with Covid have died.

It brings the state’s number of active cases to 6666.

Nearly 41,000 vaccinations were administered on Wednesday. Seventy-four per cent of eligible Victorians have received a single dose of the vaccine, while 45.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs continue to drive transmissions, with 568 cases in the north, including Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park and Meadow Heights, and 172 cases in the west, including in Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook and Werribee.

In other areas, 76 cases were recorded in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs around Pakenham, Dandenong and Berwick, and 24 cases in the eastern suburbs at Doncaster East and Croydon.

Regional Victoria recorded 21 cases, with one in Ballarat, eight in Mitchell, four in Bacchus Marsh, five in Macedon Ranges, one in Mildura, one on the Surf Coast and one case in Bendigo.

Authorities remained concerned about an aged care centre in Meadow Heights, where 11 residents have been moved to hospital after an outbreak at the facility.

The nursing home recorded one new case – a resident – on Thursday, with a total of 22 cases linked to the facility.

The residents taken to hospital have tested positive for Covid or have underlying conditions and need monitoring.

It comes as the V/Line outbreak grows to eight cases, with another worker testing positive to the virus.

About 300 staff are isolating, with drivers making up two thirds of those.

Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Gippsland and Seymour train services will return on Friday.

Fully vaccinated Victorians stranded in New South Wales and ACT can soon return home. Picture: Simon Dallinger

DIRE ADVICE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AFTER PROTESTS

Medical staff at one of Melbourne’s key vaccine hubs for vulnerable patients have been told not to wear scrubs in the city after anti-vaxxers physically and verbally abused them.

It comes as cohealth was also forced to shut down their Melbourne Town Hall vaccination centre and Central City homelessness service until Monday because of the “increasingly violent and unpredictable” protests.

Chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said she was “distressed to report” her staff had been targeted because of their work helping to vaccinate the Victorian community.

“There have been several incidents of cohealth health workers in the city being physically and verbally abused while on their way to work, targeted because they were wearing their cohealth identification,” she said.

“Our staff, and all health workers, deserve to be safe at work.

“I am shocked at the treatment of people who deserve nothing but our utmost gratitude and praise for working throughout the pandemic to ensure everyone gets the support and healthcare they need.”

She said it was with a heavy heart that they instructed staff to avoid wearing their cohealth uniform in the city and shutting their two clinics was a difficult decision.

“This means people experiencing homelessness can no longer access vital services and supports at Central City and at least 200 people per day will no longer be able to access the vaccine from the Melbourne Town Hall,” she said.

“The cohealth Melbourne Town Hall vaccination Centre was opened as a safe place for people to come to get vaccinated if they are facing disadvantage, so shutting the doors is a very difficult decision.”

She called on the Victorian community to offer support and compassion for health workers at this time.

“We condemn all acts of harassment and violence and stand in steadfast support of all Victorian health workers,” she said.

“We are currently working with the affected staff member to ensure they get the support they need.”

WAR OF WORDS OVER PFIZER

Pfizer and Moderna deliveries to Victoria will soar by 76 per cent from September to October, as Health Minister Greg Hunt challenges Daniel Andrews’s claim he needs to ration doses.

The Premier on Thursday pointed the finger at the Commonwealth, after declaring the state did not have the stock in the freezer to shorten the Pfizer dose interval from six to three weeks.

But Mr Hunt accused him of seeking a distraction on a “difficult day”, adding Victoria’s request for an additional 32,000 Moderna doses had been granted.

Victoria’s portion of mRNA vaccines will also rise from 1.7 million in September to 3 million next month.

Health Minister Greg Hunt accused Premier Daniel Andrews of seeking a distraction on a “difficult day”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

State-run hubs will receive 167,910 Pfizer doses next week, increasing to 234,540 in the week commencing October 11, with allocations for the remainder of October to be confirmed in the next 48 hours.

But Mr Andrews said: “I have to ration Pfizer because I don’t have enough”.

“Nowhere near enough of Pfizer to be able to change the dose interval,” he said.

“If you want to talk about supply, have a chat to Minister Hunt … they’re the ones who do the ordering, pay for it, ship it in.”

Mr Hunt said the state government had “a pattern” of creating a distraction on a “some of the difficult days”.

He said an overwhelming portion of the 3 million mRNA vaccines allocated to Victoria next month were Pfizer.

GP clinics continue to administer second dose Pfizer shots after three weeks, with medical advice recommending an interval of up to six weeks.

However, leading epidemiologists have backed calls to reduce interval periods at state clinics.

Professor Nancy Baxter, an epidemiologist and head of Melbourne University’s School of Population and Global Health, said it was “crazy” that GPs could give Pfizer at three-week gaps while the state hubs had a six-week interval.

“To me it is bananas that you have different programs where there’s no consistency,” she said.

Victoria, NSW and the ACT have all raised concerns in the past week about Pfizer supply issues in October.

Asked if those concerns were valid, Mr Hunt said “no”, adding Australia was expecting its full supply.

Mr Hunt this week revealed UK Pfizer doses secured under a swap deal were brought forward to October to manage flight arrivals.

Another flight containing vaccines from Europe was also rescheduled due to a volcano in the Canary Islands.

The Saturday Herald Sun this month revealed Victoria needed an extra 318,000 Pfizer doses each week to meet key vaccine targets.

It was understood that a doubling of Pfizer deliveries to Australia this month would provide enough doses to allow the cut in jab gaps.

A supercharged program would allow the state to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated mark ahead of schedule.

Mr Andrews said Victoria was currently “pushing as much AstraZeneca as we can” while pharmacists became equipped with Moderna.

DOUBLE VAXXED VICTORIANS CAN RETURN

Victorians stranded in New South Wales and ACT will be allowed to come home if they are fully vaccinated.

From September 30, Victorians in an extreme risk zone – including Sydney – will be able to return home.

But they’ll be required to test negative before they arrive and complete two weeks of home quarantine.

Participants will also be required to get tested at the start and finish of their quarantine stint.

The current extreme risk zone rules will remain in place for those who aren’t fully vaccinated.

Those who are not currently vaccinated can still apply for an exemption to enter the state under the existing limited criteria.

Authorised officers will conduct at-home spot checks on Victorians quarantining in their house to ensure compliance.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the decision was “proportionate”.

“Given our increasingly high vaccination rates and the direction we’re headed in the roadmap, this is a safe and appropriate decision and it’s made on public health advice,” he said.

Andrews says Victoria is rationing Pfizer doses to meet second-dose demand. Picture: Getty Images

GLIMMER OF GRAND FINAL HOPE

The Premier has not ruled out loosening coronavirus curfews on grand final night.

The game will be held in Perth this Saturday night, creating issues for the curfew hours.

“I’m happy to raise the matter with the chief health officer to see if his thinking has changed,” Mr Andrews said.

All staff, students and visitors will have to be vaccinated to attend Monash University campuses. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

MONASH UNI MAKES JAB MANDATORY

All staff, students and visitors attending Monash University campuses will have to be fully vaccinated.

It comes after a recent survey, conducted by the university, also shows 89 per cent of respondents said they would feel more comfortable returning to on-campus learning if those around them had been vaccinated.

The survey revealed more than 95 per cent of staff and students at Monash University have received at least one Covid jab, or were planning to get the vaccine.

Fully vaccinated students will be expected to return to campus on November 5, in line with Victoria’s roadmap and class timetables.

Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated students will be able to continue studying online.

President and vice-chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner said the measures would be in place until January 31, 2022 or “until further information is made available from the government about Covid controls for the unvaccinated members of our community”.

“We appreciate that we have some staff and students who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons and have a medical exemption,” she said.

“We will work through details about how this cohort of staff and students will be able to access our campuses and work locations, and will provide further information on this in the near future.”

Monash is offering vaccination appointments to staff and students through the University Health Service, with disability support services students prioritised for bookings.

Students who show proof of vaccination upon their first return to campus will also receive a $20 voucher to use at on-campus retailers.

PUSH FOR VAX PASSPORT TRIAL

City of Melbourne will push to host the state government’s pilot program for vaccine passports in a bid to immediately reopen struggling businesses.

Councillors voted unanimously in support of putting forward the city as a trial location of the highly awaited vaccine “health pass” system.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said there had been an overwhelming response from businesses, including bookshops and theatres, to take part.

“Small businesses are terrified that they won’t last until the state government’s road map finally allows them to trade properly,” Ms Capp said.

“This trial will deliver hope and insight to businesses big and small and provide the perfect opportunity to start reopening safely.”

City of Melbourne is pushing for a pilot program for vaccine passports to immediately reopen struggling businesses. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Under the opt-in pilot program, businesses would be given a choice of participating in the program or remaining shut until they are allowed to reopen under the state government road map.

Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said Melbourne’s tourism performance levels had plummeted to where they were 20 years ago.

“We have literally lost all the growth of the last two decades,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of ground to make up and trials like this will give the industry a chance to open up and get some custom going.”

A government spokesman did not say whether the CBD would lead the pilot but said targeted vaccinated economy pilots were being worked on.

Councillor Roshena Campbell said CBD business owners were at “breaking point”, and hosting the pilot program would provide critical relief.

But she said vaccine passports should be discarded as soon as vaccination targets were reached.

“Once we reach our vaccination targets, proof of double vaccination cannot be the price of entry to venues, but it can be a temporary ticket if it means our city opens sooner, with fewer restrictions and density limits,” she said.

BALLARAT FREE FROM SNAP LOCKDOWN

Ballarat has been released from its snap seven-day lockdown, with health authorities confident the city’s Covid-19 outbreak has been brought un­d­er control.

From 11.59pm on Wednesday, Ballarat’s restrictions al­igned to the rest of regional Victoria, with the scrapping of the rule on the six reasons to leave home. Parts of Point Lonsdale were also released from stay-at-home orders at the same time as Ballarat, allowing about 500 residents to enjoy freedoms shared by the rest of the beachside town.

The Borough of Queenscliffe and City of Greater Geelong’s boundary runs down the centre of Point Lonsdale, which resulted in the town being split in two after lockdown restrictions were introduced in Geelong but not in Queenscliffe.

Ballarat has been released from its snap seven-day lockdown.

Mayor Ross Ebbels said easing restrictions was “sensible”.

“Vaccination rates are highest in the country and it’s one community,” he said. “Our community is happy, our traders are happy, so it’s great.”

Authorities hold fears over a worsening outbreak at a Meadow Heights aged-care facility, with 17 residents and four staff infected.

AGED-CARE STAFF LAX IN GETTING VAX

Victoria has recorded the nation’s lowest Covid-19 vaccination rate for aged-care staff.

At one facility, the Polish Retirement Home in Bayswater, just 60-69 per cent of staff have received at least one dose, according to My Aged Care data from September 21.

The alarming figures come after federal-funded nursing homes were required to declare their jab rates after a mandate came into force on Friday.

In Victoria, 98.6 per cent of residential aged-care workers in have had at least one jab, compared to a high of 99.5 per cent in Tasmania.

The national figure stands at 98.8 per cent.

Victoria has recorded the nation’s lowest Covid-19 vaccination rate for aged-care staff.

More than 3100 staff across the country have until October 1 to get their first shot after being unable to secure an appointment before the deadline.

It is understood about one third of those are in Victoria, where more than 200 workers have medical exemptions.

Some employees are being stood down from shifts, while others are required to wear personal protective equipment.

Paynesville Gardens Care Community and Lakes Entrance Care Community are among facilities that have declared staff with exemptions.

The Polish Retirement Home refused to comment.

Originally published as War of words over Pfizer supplies; 766 cases, four deaths