Australia to remain close for some time despite vaccine roll out
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Speaking at a press conference, Australia Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Kelly said that while it’s likely that the Pfizer vaccine is the one Aussies will receive first as part of the government’s planned rollout – which has been brought forward to next month most will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, yesterday the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology said the federal government should immediately pause the planned rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity.
Phase three clinical trials of the vaccine, which is the centrepiece of Australia’s vaccination strategy, show it is only 62 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 when given in the recommended dose. Trials suggest vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are about 95 per cent effective.