Almost 1.5 million vaccine doses have been administered across Australia so far during the rollout, including just over 22,000 on Saturday. More than half of those have been administered through GP clinics, while the states have given out almost 644,000.
Earlier this month, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation updated its vaccine advice to say Pfizer was the preferred vaccine for those under 50, after the AstraZeneca vaccine was linked to a rare but serious blood-clotting side effect.
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler said the Prime Minister must come out of national cabinet with a clear plan for the rest of the rollout that gave more responsibility to the states.
Australia's quarantine-free travel bubble with New Zealand has officially opened, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison describing it as a "win-win" for both countries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes to set a pathway for future international travel when the national cabinet meets, but he is in no rush to open borders.
Coronavirus Australia: COVID vaccines for over-50s to be brought forward as national cabinet reconfigures rollout brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
But Mr Morrison said it would require the backing of the state premiers.
The vaccine rollout has caused tension between the states and the Commonwealth over missed targets. The federal government’s move to hold national cabinet twice a week was aimed to bring an end to the blame game, with Mr Morrison saying he wanted to “unite the nation”.
Loading
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Thursday welcomed Mr Morrison’s decision to convene national cabinet twice a week, but said so far decisions about the rollout had “largely been a one-way street, with states and territories being told that this is how it is going to work”.