Rachel Clun
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has talked with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the importance of keeping vaccine supply chains open, as Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed Australia was on schedule to begin rolling out the Pfizer vaccine from the end of the month.
The European Union has given itself the power to block COVID-19 vaccine shipments due to supply shortages. The controls could affect shipments of the Pfizer and international AstraZeneca vaccines Australia is expecting in coming weeks.
‘‘We are on track on current advice, repeated this morning by our officials who have been working with the EU for commencement of Pfizer vaccinations beginning in late February – that’s always subject to shipping and national events,’’ Mr Hunt said during question time yesterday.
In the Prime Minister’s talks with his German counterpart on Monday night, the pair discussed the economic impact of the pandemic and compared vaccine rollout strategies. Australia has a four-phase vaccine rollout plan, which will be delivered by doctors, nurses, pharmacists and community health networks among others.
Newly appointed opposition health spokesman Mark Butler said the government must confirm more details about the national booking system, which is set to be used across the country during the vaccine rollout.
‘‘We need more information about the online booking service that is being prepared by the government – the only way in which Australians will be able to book an appointment to receive the COVID vaccine. Not just information for patients, but information for GPs, for aged care facilities, and the like,’’ he said yesterday.
On Friday, Mr Hunt called the booking system a ‘‘single front door’’ through which people can access vaccination appointments, but said people would also be able to call general practices or staterun vaccination clinics to book in.