Slade Brockman (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Once again, we rise to speak on the vaccination rollout in this place and once again we have those opposite attempting to play politics with what is a very complex, very important multijurisdictional rollout of vaccination across Australia using different varieties of vaccines in an environment where the health advice has changed a number of times—and that is exactly what those opposite do not want to talk about. The health advice has changed to a significant degree on a number of occasions, including just last week, when, once again, the advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine changed the age recommendation for Australians. I said in this place before that I was booked in for the AstraZeneca vaccine. I had chosen to do it at the start of our winter recess so that, if there were any side effects—I'm not worried about an adverse reaction—I wouldn't be travelling to Canberra in the imminent near future. As a result of the changed health recommendation, that booking has since been changed to a Pfizer vaccine and it's going to be slightly later. Obviously, when the health advice changes, the rollout is going to change. Those opposite playing politics on this is not only unhelpful but plays into the hands of those who wish to raise doubt about the vaccine efficacy. I think those opposite should take that into account when they do play these political games.

Obviously, when ATAGI came to the government with its changed recommendation on AstraZeneca—that it was now recommended only for people aged 60 and over—things needed to change. The experts at ATAGI have made it clear that, for those Australians who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca, it's strongly recommended they do have their second dose of AstraZeneca, given the risks from the second shot of the vaccine are much, much smaller. On receiving the advice of the change of age, the government acted quickly—very quickly. Within half an hour, in fact, of receiving that advice, the government announced it publicly. and then that flowed on through the various jurisdictions to ensure changes were made to the vaccine rollout and people were informed if their particular circumstances changed, as mine did,

Obviously, there are other outcomes from the national cabinet meeting. The Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, Lieutenant General Frewen, provided each state and territory government with applications for Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses for their jurisdiction over the remainder of 2021. This will allow the state jurisdictions to plan their individual rollouts. The coordinator-general confirmed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocations are provided on a proportional population basis. The coordinator-general confirmed the Commonwealth delivers all first-dose allocations to states and territories, with matching second-dose allocations delivered three weeks after first doses are administered. This is important. This ensures that states and territories have control over first- and second-dose administration based on their supply schedules.

National cabinet also noted the Commonwealth is fast-tracking plans to expand the number of access points for Pfizer by the end of July, and 136 Commonwealth vaccination clinics, 40 ACCHSs and 1,300 GPs will be administering Pfizer. Many more primary care providers will be offered the chance to administer mRNA vaccines as the supply of Pfizer significantly increases and the first supplies of Moderna arrive in September and October. The coordinator-general also confirmed that, based on expected supplies, Australia remains on track to offer every eligible person in Australia a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021. Once again, the government's and my message to all Australians is to make sure you are booked in for your first shot; make sure you are vaccinated. That is the best way to protect our loved ones and protect our community in this pandemic and to return to normal.