Australia is tipped to hit one million coronavirus vaccine jabs by the end of the week.While complex and logistically challenging, the national rollout has become mired in controversy as federal and state governments bicker in public over who and what is to blame for the considerable lag.Here is a closer look at Australia’s vaccination program, which is millions of jabs behind where the government expected it to be.
Are we behind schedule?
Yes. At the beginning of the year the Federal Government forecast four million doses would be administered by the end of March.
So how many have we done?
As of today, 841,000 jabs.
So, we’ve obviously missed the March target?
Yes, when supply problems became clear, the government later pushed the four million target back to the end of April.
What are the supply problems?
The Federal Government has blamed the European Union for leaving Australia three million doses behind schedule.
What does the EU have to do with it?
Earlier this month, Italy and the EU blocked a shipment of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine containing 250,000 doses, destined for Australia.The block followed the EU tightening its rules on vaccine exports in an effort to secure its own supply.The government said this created major supply problems and put us behind schedule.
So is there a supply issue?
That was at the centre of the very public clash between the Commonwealth and NSW and Queensland. Both states claimed the government supply line was uncertain, making it difficult to schedule first and second doses. Some federal ministers claimed the supply was secure and that states were stockpiling vaccines when they just needed to hurry up and get Australians jabbed. GP clinics have also complained about supplies.
Can this be resolved?
The local manufacture of the AstraZeneca vaccine at Melbourne-based CSL, which began at the end of March, is key to ensuring steady supplies. CSL believes it can ramp up production to one million doses per week.
How many doses have been delivered to each state?
As of April 6, NSW has been delivered 126,494 doses, Victoria 116,234, Queensland 86,985, WA 56,872, Tasmania 17,511, South Australia 28,759, ACT 12,778 and Northern Territory 8647.
Supply aside, how can we speed up our vaccination rate?
Some state governments are considering doing what the US and UK have done, and setting up vaccination centres at sports stadiums and convention centres to get Australians jabbed as rapidly possible.
Source: 9news.com.au
