Premier attacks Health Minister for being ‘behind on international research’ about jabbing kids

After coming under fire for “scaremongering” comments about vaccinating kids under 12, Annastacia Palaszczuk has claimed Greg Hunt is finally catching up to international research that she raised “weeks ago”.

Annastacia Palaszczuk says Health Minister Greg Hunt has “finally caught up” with her demand to investigate how children would be affected by Covid-19 when the nation reopens.

The Premier suggested Greg Hunt was only now catching up on international research that she raised weeks ago, which resulted in widespread condemnation for her comments which were labelled as ‘scaremongering’.

“It’s good to see that the federal Health Minister has finally caught up on the research and trials being conducted,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during a press conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“This is exactly what I raised weeks ago … this is why I was attacked,” she said.

Criticism came after the Premier suggested the most vulnerable would be at risk if she opened up Queensland, asking “what would happen to the children”.

Ms Palaszczuk’s barb follows comments from Greg Hunt and health officials as to whether Australia would seriously consider vaccinating five-year-olds in the future, following talks of potential international trials.

Greg Hunt speaks during a press conference at Parliament House earlier this month. Picture: Gary Ramage

Deputy chief medical officer Sonya Bennett said she ‘supported’ that (trialling the efficacy of vaccinating 5-12 year olds) but it was ‘too early to say’.

“I support that, and I guess I’d just say it’s a little too early to say how we would use it, and … that’s exactly the reason for trials,” Dr Bennett said.

“We need to understand not just the safety of children, which is imperative, but how effective it is at preventing infection,” she said.

Relating to whether Australia would have sufficient supply if vaccines were made eligible to children under twelve, Mr Hunt said he presumed it would be sufficient for first and second doses.

“We have secured sufficient supply to cover all of the nation for next year in terms of 60 million Pfizer, 15 million Moderna, and 51 million Novavax” Mr Hunt said.

“We’d always presume that if trials produced evidence to safely open for children of all ages that we would have first and second doses for them and a booster available later in the year,” he said.

No country in the world is currently vaccinating children under 12.

Originally published as Premier attacks Health Minister for being ‘behind on international research’ about jabbing kids