Still no vaccine timetable for Aust

CANBERRA: Australia’s health specialists say even with the proposed reset of the Covid19 vaccination programme, there is no way of putting a timetable on its completion.

The National Cabinet — comprising Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders — is due to release details of a revised vaccination plan tomorrow.

The revision was needed after advice was received that the Pfizer shot should be the preferred vaccine for under50s, due to bloodclotting issues with the AstraZeneca shot.

Federal health department secretary Brendan Murphy told a parliamentary inquiry yesterday he believed the first two phases of the programme — focused on aged care, disability care and frontline workers — would be completed in May.

However, there was still much work to be done in terms of disability care residents.

So far, of the 25,000 people in 6000 disability facilities, only 1640 have had a jab delivered.

Murphy said governments were committed to having all people vulnerable to severe Covid19 vaccinated by the middle of the year.

‘‘At the moment we are not in a position to give an updated time on when vaccinations will be completed, but all first ministers want it completed as soon as possible,’’ he said.

‘‘There are still a number of uncertainties, even with a recalibrated plan.’’

These included public hesitancy and supplies of vaccine from overseas, he said.

A third vaccine, made by Novavax, was now due in the third quarter of this year, rather than midyear.

Health Minister Greg Hunt was also cautious when asked about a new timetable, with 1.7 million doses having been delivered so far nationally.

‘‘We’ve had a sixfold, fourweek improvement since GPs came on board,’’ he said.

‘‘The rollout is accelerating.’’ — AAP