Australian-produced vaccines to be administered in fortnight
THE first vaccines produced in Australia will start to roll out in about a fortnight, while workers from the Pacific will take part in a “pre-travel quarantine” pilot in a bid to boost COVID-hit sectors.
National cabinet, meeting on Friday for the first time in a month, also agreed to boost capacity at the Northern Territory’s
Howard Springs quarantine facility but state quarantine caps will be unchanged.
Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy confirmed the first of 50 million AstraZeneca doses to be produced in Victoria would be administered from March 22.
“The value of having onshore production cannot be underestimated. Every country is depending on international supplies (and) they’re seeing them come slowly,” Professor Murphy said.
It comes after Italy blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of the vaccine, saying Australia’s low case numbers and death toll made it “not vulnerable” to COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the move was not unexpected, but underlined the value on vaccines produced onshore.
“That’s why we’ve ... ensured that we have our own domestically produced vaccine, and we’re one of few countries that have done that,” Mr Morrison said.
“That has given us sovereignty over our vaccination program, which I think is incredibly important.”
He welcomed the first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, produced overseas and administered in South Australia on Friday, as “another V day for Australia”.
Prof Murphy revealed more than 70,000 COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Australia since its rollout started almost a fortnight ago.
Recipients included about 20,000 residents in 241 aged care facilities.
The Prime Minister also confirmed workers from Fiji and Vanuatu would take part in a “pre-travel quarantine” to boost COVID-hit sectors as part of the seasonal workers program.
Industries heavily reliant on seasonal workers have been crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced international borders to abruptly shut.
IT’S hard not to marvel at a bright field of sunflowers, even more so when one such field is harvested in aid of a wonderful cause.
Meredith Dairy cropping and pastures manager Murray McConachy (pictured) and his team have grown a field just out of Meredith to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Mr McConachy said everyone was invited to the “Sunflowers for the Kids” event on Saturday to enjoy picking their own sunflowers to raise much-needed funds for the hospital.
The field is located at the corner of the Midland Highway and Doyles Road, heading north past Meredith, and will be open from 9am-5pm.
This year the Good Friday Appeal celebrates 90 years. Since 1931 the appeal has been dedicated to raising funds for equipment, research and education to support the work of the Royal Children’s Hospital.
While fundraising efforts are already under way, the appeal itself will take place on Friday, April 2.
Donations can be made online at goodfridayappeal.com.au