Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Babet for this supplementary question. COVID-19, as a virus, also impacts health and has those health consequences, like pericarditis and myocarditis. If you have a severe case of COVID-19, that is a side effect and consequence of that. The data shows that those who are unvaccinated—so they haven't had a vaccine, primarily an mRNA vaccine—are much more likely to end up in ICU or passing away. That includes those who are not vaccinated or not up to date with their vaccination. People in my age group are 32 times more likely to end up in hospital if they're not vaccinated. So the answer to the question is: yes, we are confident. The government and the approving authorities are confident that the mRNA vaccine is safe, and we urge people to be vaccinated. (Time expired)