February 15, 2021
1 min read

Australia’s vaccine rollout to begin on Monday

Australia’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout will begin next Monday as the first 142,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine landed in the country, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

Hunt said the vaccines landed in Sydney just after midday on Monday and would go through security and quality-assurance processes, including batch testing, before the rollout began on February 22, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“Today marks another important milestone; next week with the first vaccines marks an even more important milestone,” he said, adding: “With those milestones we give Australians hope and protection.”

The federal government will keep 62,000 doses of the initial shipment aside for second vaccinations. Thirty thousand will be used for aged care workers and residents, and the remaining 50,000 will be divided between the states and territories on a population basis.

Hunt expects the first phase of the rollout to take six weeks.

States have been told how many doses to expect but the Health Minister did not publicly release that breakdown.

Vaccine

“We’ll provide that later on in the week; the states have been notified,” he said.

Phase 1a includes aged care workers, vulnerable residents of aged care facilities, hotel quarantine workers, border staff and essential health care workers.

The federal government will control the vaccination plan for aged care residents and staff. Hunt, however, said it was up to states to decide which groups from that phase would take priority.

Scott Morrison

“It’s a matter for the states, but they have indicated – and we generally support it – that the greatest immediate risk is the border quarantine process,” he said. “They will make sure that the balance is focused on the greatest risk, and I think that’s appropriate.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was a historic day for Australia.

“One of the largest logistics exercises ever undertaken in this country has been planned for, Mr Speaker, and is now under way,” he said during question time.

Also Read-Kenya will resume flights to Rome in June

Read More-Mexican Prez hails Biden’s decision to halt wall build

Previous Story

Kenya will resume flights to Rome in June

Next Story

Biden urges gun law reform on anniversary of Parkland shooting

Latest from -Top News

India, Australia Begin AUSTRAHIND

The AUSTRAHIND exercise, which followed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent visit to Australia, reaffirmed the deepening defence cooperation between the two nations…reports Asian Lite News Strengthening the expanding defence partnership between India

Violence Mars TLP Rally in Pakistan

The Pakistani police and rangers launched an operation to disperse TLP supporters after violence broke out during the march….reports Asian Lite News At least four people, including both police officers and civilians,

‘Modi’s a Very Good Friend’: Trump

Trump’s remarks come days after Modi called him to congratulate on the “success” of the Gaza peace plan….reports Asian Lite News US President Donald Trump on Monday lauded India and described Prime

Delhi, Ottawa Hit Reset

The Canadian Foreign Minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday in New Delhi, vowing to strengthen the ties…reports Asian Lite News As India and Canada

Gaza Truce Signed, Key Players Missing

Sisi reiterated support for the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire plan, stressing that the agreement must be “solidified and all its phases implemented…reports Asian Lite News A document formalising the recently brokered
Go toTop