Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

As I've said a number of times in this chamber, the Australian government is conducting the vaccine rollout based on the health advice to us from the TGA and ATAGI. It is worth noting that the vaccines that we are using in this country have been the subject of four approval processes by the TGA. The US only got full approval of the use of Pfizer vaccine in the US this week, so they have been operating under an emergency approval process.

We unapologetically continue to work in conjunction with the health advice to make sure we retain a high level of confidence in the vaccines we are rolling out and have the best available data available to support the vaccination rollout across the country. We don't apologise for that. As I have indicated to the chamber already, we have received and implemented advice for the vaccination of children with a certain number of health conditions. That process has commenced and we expect to receive very soon advice from ATAGI in respect of the vaccination of other children in the 12 to 15 age group. We unapologetically continue to work in conjunction with the health advice from our health professionals and experts, the registration processes through the TGA and the advice from ATAGI in support of our vaccination rollout.