Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivers federal budget with child care, aged care and employment among key targets — as it happened
3 years, 10 months ago

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivers federal budget with child care, aged care and employment among key targets — as it happened

ABC  

By Inga Ting Since concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine threw the government's COVID-19 inoculation strategy into disarray, the government has studiously avoided announcing new rollout targets. "Rather than set targets that can get knocked about by every to and fro … we're just getting on with it," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in April. Just five months ago, the government's mid-year outlook assumed it would be "fully in place by late 2021." Treasurer Josh Frydenberg offered more detail in the press conference, saying the assumption is that every Australian who wants to be vaccinated, is likely to receive the two doses required to be fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

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History of this topic

Tasmania's child vaccination rate stalls, in the face of Omicron sub-variant BA.2
3 years ago

Tasmania's child vaccination rate stalls, in the face of Omicron sub-variant BA.2

ABC  

Tasmania has one of the world's highest vaccination rates, but many young children are still unvaccinated — so, why has progress stalled? With the new Omicron sub-variant BA.2 spreading across the island state, and outbreaks in more than 100 schools, is it time to ramp up vaccination efforts? Deakin University chair in epidemiology Catherine Bennett said the new Omicron sub-variant …

$2.1 billion health package to target COVID-19 and flu spike expected this winter
3 years ago

$2.1 billion health package to target COVID-19 and flu spike expected this winter

ABC  

An extra $2.1 billion will be provided by the federal government amid concerns of rising COVID-19 cases and an expected spike in influenza over winter. Key points: The money will be spent on a number of programs, including extending free rapid tests to concession card holders People are being encouraged to get the influenza vaccine when it becomes available The …

Australia will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers in 2 weeks
3 years, 1 month ago

Australia will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers in 2 weeks

NPR  

Australia will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers in 2 weeks Enlarge this image toggle caption Kelly Defina/Getty Images Kelly Defina/Getty Images Australia will reopen to fully vaccinated travelers beginning Feb. 21, officials announced Monday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted at a news conference that Australia has progressively opened its borders through programs with New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, …

COVID-19 vaccinations for NSW children delayed or cancelled as Sydney clinics hit with delivery issues
3 years, 2 months ago

COVID-19 vaccinations for NSW children delayed or cancelled as Sydney clinics hit with delivery issues

ABC  

Suzannah Nicholson's seven-year-old son, Angus, was due to get his first COVID-19 jab today at their local GP clinic in Glebe in Sydney's inner-west. Key points: Dr Danielle McMullen says vaccinations for 5-11-year-olds will not be completed before school starts Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says there are three million vaccines available for this age group In the 12-15-year age …

Mandatory vaccination to be introduced for most WA workers, Mark McGowan says
3 years, 5 months ago

Mandatory vaccination to be introduced for most WA workers, Mark McGowan says

ABC  

Vaccination will become mandatory across a range of new industries covering about 75 per cent of WA's workforce, with employers and employees facing fines if they do not comply. Key points: Most of WA's workers will be required to be vaccinated Most of WA's workers will be required to be vaccinated Mark McGowan says he wants to prepare WA for …

Australia: Melbourne to bring an end to world’s longest lockdowns
3 years, 5 months ago

Australia: Melbourne to bring an end to world’s longest lockdowns

Al Jazeera  

When Melbourne’s lockdown ends this week, it will have been under six lockdowns totalling 262 days since March 2020. By the time the curbs are lifted, the city of five million people will have been under six lockdowns totalling 262 days since March 2020. “We are instead locking people out who have not got vaccinated to protect themselves and protect …

Christmas reopening for travellers vaccinated against COVID-19 'not our expectation', SA Health says
3 years, 5 months ago

Christmas reopening for travellers vaccinated against COVID-19 'not our expectation', SA Health says

ABC  

South Australia's top health bureaucrat has contradicted the expectations of the state's Premier, expressing doubt about a plan to scrap COVID-19 quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated interstate travellers by Christmas. Key points: Last week, SA Premier Steven Marshall spoke about the likelihood of removing quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers SA Health's chief executive Chris McGowan expressed doubts about a Christmas …

Australia reveals plan to reopen international borders to fully vaccinated citizens
3 years, 5 months ago

Australia reveals plan to reopen international borders to fully vaccinated citizens

CNN  

CNN — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday, October 1 announced plans to reopen the country’s borders to fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents, moving from a strict zero-Covid strategy to a model of living with the virus. Morrison also said that with 55% of the country now fully vaccinated and first dose rates approaching 80%, the government “has …

COVID-19 vaccine program would be further behind if government focused on Pfizer, PM says
3 years, 6 months ago

COVID-19 vaccine program would be further behind if government focused on Pfizer, PM says

ABC  

The Australian COVID-19 vaccine program would be even further behind if the government had depended on Pfizer vaccines for its rollout, the Prime Minister says, as his government faces suggestions it was late to make a deal with the company. Key points: The Prime Minister says a locally made vaccine strategy has doubled the country's current vaccination rate The Prime …

NSW on track to have 80 per cent of population partially vaccinated by September
3 years, 7 months ago

NSW on track to have 80 per cent of population partially vaccinated by September

ABC  

NSW is on track to have 80 per cent of the adult population vaccinated with one dose by mid-September which will make a difference to the speed at which COVID can spread, an expert says. Key points: Currently 3.5 million NSW adults have received one dose of vaccine One dose reduces the chance of being infected by 33 per cent …

Effective and ethical political leadership cannot avoid mandatory vaccination
3 years, 7 months ago

Effective and ethical political leadership cannot avoid mandatory vaccination

ABC  

There is an ethical and political failure of leadership on Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination policy. Moreover, the sensitivity on the part of some political leaders to the worries and concerns of people who are hesitant or opposed to COVID-19 vaccinations would be more understandable if similar sensitivity was shown in response to the worries and concerns of, for instance, the unemployed, …

Pfizer vaccine bookings open to Canberrans aged 30 to 39 as ACT pushes towards vaccination target
3 years, 7 months ago

Pfizer vaccine bookings open to Canberrans aged 30 to 39 as ACT pushes towards vaccination target

ABC  

From today, Canberrans aged 30 to 39 can book appointments to receive a Pfizer vaccine, as the ACT pushes to be the first jurisdiction to reach the 70 per cent vaccination threshold. Key points: Just over half of Canberra's adult population has already received their first COVID-19 vaccine Just over half of Canberra's adult population has already received their first …

Reality check: Would the government's original vaccine timetable have put Australia in a different position?
3 years, 7 months ago

Reality check: Would the government's original vaccine timetable have put Australia in a different position?

ABC  

Having last year promised to put Australia at the front of the global coronavirus vaccination queue, Prime Minister Scott Morrison found himself under intensifying pressure over the pace of the rollout. The bottom line Even meeting the government's most optimistic targets, the number of people vaccinated by July 8 wouldn't have been enough to avoid using suppression strategies like lockdown …

Scott Morrison won't commit to time frame but says 70pc vaccination target 'absolutely achievable'
3 years, 7 months ago

Scott Morrison won't commit to time frame but says 70pc vaccination target 'absolutely achievable'

ABC  

The Prime Minister believes getting 70 per cent of the Australian population fully vaccinated is "absolutely achievable", but is being careful not to put any time frame on achieving that benchmark after significant criticism of delays in the vaccine rollout so far. Key points: National Cabinet targets for easing COVID-19 restrictions are tied to vaccinations rates across Australia Seventy per …

Should Australia's COVID-19 vaccination efforts be turning to children?
3 years, 7 months ago

Should Australia's COVID-19 vaccination efforts be turning to children?

ABC  

With school back in Melbourne and Sydney's year 12 students returning to the classroom in the middle of a COVID-19 outbreak, experts are now asking when Australia's vaccination rollout will shift to children. Key points: Some countries have started vaccinating children from age 12 Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has recently approved the Pfizer vaccine for children 12 and up Children …

Australia's sluggish vaccination figures aren't all because of poor supply. Here's what's going wrong
3 years, 8 months ago

Australia's sluggish vaccination figures aren't all because of poor supply. Here's what's going wrong

ABC  

More than 150 days into Australia's vaccination rollout, no age group is yet to reach a first dose vaccination rate of 80 per cent. The current uptake is likely to be far behind the vaccination target for Australia that is due to be set by National Cabinet — using modelling from the Doherty Institute — in coming weeks as part …

'I take responsibility': Prime Minister acknowledges COVID-19 vaccine rollout failures, as one million weekly doses mark reached
3 years, 8 months ago

'I take responsibility': Prime Minister acknowledges COVID-19 vaccine rollout failures, as one million weekly doses mark reached

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he takes responsibility for the slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout, but that the country is now tracking well with the vaccination program. Key points: One million people received a COVID-19 vaccination in the past seven days One million people received a COVID-19 vaccination in the past seven days The Government expects to receive advice on a …

Australia's COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine supply to arrive a month earlier than scheduled, from September to August
3 years, 8 months ago

Australia's COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine supply to arrive a month earlier than scheduled, from September to August

ABC  

Australia's supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines has been brought forward, with 4.5 million doses anticipated to arrive in September now expected to be available in August. Key points: The Prime Minister hopes the news means every Australian will be offered a vaccine by the end of 2021 The earlier arrival could help lift the number of people inoculated against …

National Cabinet agrees to COVID-19 vaccine targets, halve international arrivals
3 years, 8 months ago

National Cabinet agrees to COVID-19 vaccine targets, halve international arrivals

ABC  

National Cabinet has agreed to halve the number of people allowed into Australia each week and to set up vaccination targets. Key points: International arrivals will drop from 6,370 to 3,035 a week International arrivals will drop from 6,370 to 3,035 a week Modelling is being done to work out what vaccine targets are needed Modelling is being done to …

Vaccine production from domestic players to be enough to vaccinate all by year-end: Centre tells Supreme Court
3 years, 9 months ago

Vaccine production from domestic players to be enough to vaccinate all by year-end: Centre tells Supreme Court

India TV News  

The Centre on Monday told Supreme Court that entire eligible population will be vaccinated by 2021-end. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, LN Rao and SR Bhat that the production from domestic vaccine producers - SII, Bharat Biotech and Reddy's Lab - will be enough to vaccinate all who are over 18 years of age. …

Nobody can predict the future, least of all in a pandemic. But last night's budget had a crack at it
3 years, 10 months ago

Nobody can predict the future, least of all in a pandemic. But last night's budget had a crack at it

ABC  

Predicting the future is a fool's game. And the federal government, burned by Prime Minister Scott Morrison's failed ambition to administer four million vaccine doses by April, is particularly reluctant to set any expectations around how, or when, the pandemic might end. A cash boost for women's health and safety, money to improve aged care, but renewables get left behind …

Australia administers 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, well short of initial targets
3 years, 10 months ago

Australia administers 2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, well short of initial targets

ABC  

This week Australia passed the milestone of administering 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The rollout is in phase 1a and phase 1b of the federal government's rollout plan, which includes vaccinating: Quarantine and border workers and their household contacts Quarantine and border workers and their household contacts Frontline health care workers Frontline health care workers Aged care and …

National Cabinet agrees to fast-track COVID-19 vaccination for over 50s
3 years, 11 months ago

National Cabinet agrees to fast-track COVID-19 vaccination for over 50s

ABC  

Australia will fast-track its COVID-19 vaccine rollout for people older than 50 next month, as National Cabinet seeks to reset the nation's troubled vaccination program. Key points: Scott Morrison says Australians older than 50 will be able to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine from May 3 Scott Morrison says Australians older than 50 will be able to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine …

COVID updates: Australia won't be fully vaccinated until August 2023 if rollout continues at current pace — as it happened
3 years, 11 months ago

COVID updates: Australia won't be fully vaccinated until August 2023 if rollout continues at current pace — as it happened

ABC  

Reporting by Kathy Lord Australia's vaccination rollout is a mess and needs to be changed, said Bill Bowtell, an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales and a strategic policy consultant. "I think it's much better to make 50 the dividing line," he said. "This is imperative that the states and territories —if they're going to plan all …

Australians over 50 will be 'mass vaccinated' with AstraZeneca
3 years, 11 months ago

Australians over 50 will be 'mass vaccinated' with AstraZeneca

Daily Mail  

Australians over 50 will be 'mass vaccinated' with the AstraZeneca jab at special hubs this winter - but everyone else has a much longer wait. Scott Morrison is planning to set up mass vaccination hubs in Australia In a desperate attempt to get the stalled program back on track, he plans to create huge hubs to ramp up vaccinations. Mr …

Australia drops vaccine goal after AstraZeneca advice change
3 years, 11 months ago

Australia drops vaccine goal after AstraZeneca advice change

Al Jazeera  

Plan to vaccinate all people by the end of the year abandoned after blood clot fears prompt change to medical advice on AstraZeneca use. Australia has abandoned its target of vaccinating nearly all the country’s 26 million people against COVID-19 by the end of 2021 after medical authorities changed their advice on vaccine use for the under-50s. Australia’s vaccination programme …

Scott Morrison abandons target to have all Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year
3 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison abandons target to have all Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of the year

ABC  

The Prime Minister has abandoned all targets for the nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccines after new medical advice threw the program into disarray. Key points: Mr Morrison said the government would no longer be setting targets for the delivery of the vaccines He said there were no plans to set any new targets for completing first doses Before the new …

Australia's COVID-19 vaccine supply is still patchy. But will other vaccines help fill the void?
3 years, 11 months ago

Australia's COVID-19 vaccine supply is still patchy. But will other vaccines help fill the void?

ABC  

Wind your mind back to early February. In a big announcement, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government — which at the time was still three weeks away from conducting its first jab — had worked “quietly, behind the scenes” to secure an extra "10 million doses" of the Pfizer vaccine. "We now have access to over 150 million vaccine …

Will lockdowns be necessary after more people are vaccinated? A new model might tell us
3 years, 11 months ago

Will lockdowns be necessary after more people are vaccinated? A new model might tell us

ABC  

Once more of Australia's population receives a COVID vaccine, what happens if there is another large outbreak of the virus? If an outbreak occurred and European-style "loose suppression" restrictions were in place, daily cases would likely blow out to more than 1,000 a day during the phase 2a and phase 3 rollout of the vaccine. According to Dr Blakely's model, …

Is Australia botching the vaccine rollout?
3 years, 11 months ago

Is Australia botching the vaccine rollout?

ABC  

Six million Australians are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, but as of Monday, fewer than 600,000 have had it. Today on The Signal, we investigate the slow start to Australia's COVID-19 vaccine program. Featured: Dr Stephen Duckett, Health Economist & Director, Health Program, The Grattan Institute Dr Karen Price, President, Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners Editor's Note: A Statement …

Brendan Murphy 'pretty confident' most Australians will get at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by October
4 years ago

Brendan Murphy 'pretty confident' most Australians will get at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by October

ABC  

Nearly 160,000 people have now had a COVID-19 vaccination, including the Prime Minister who received his second Pfizer dose on Sunday. Key points: Prime Minister says it has been a "herculean effort" to get vaccines to Australia He has announced an additional $1.1b for the nation's COVID-19 response The government has set up a website in the hope of stopping …

Federal government walks back coronavirus vaccination rollout targets, blames production and supply issues
4 years ago

Federal government walks back coronavirus vaccination rollout targets, blames production and supply issues

ABC  

The head of the Department of Health has blamed uncertainty around local production and international supply issues as the government appears set to miss its stated vaccine rollout targets. Key points: The government wanted to vaccinate 4 million Australians by April and the entire country by October Slower-than-expected deliveries and uncertain local production is making those targets look difficult to …

What if the vaccine isn’t enough? We must plan for all scenarios
4 years, 2 months ago

What if the vaccine isn’t enough? We must plan for all scenarios

The Independent  

Most of us, including the government, are assuming that if the mass vaccination goes ahead speedily we shall see relaxation of the Covid restrictions in March and be largely free of them in the summer. Our government seems incapable of doing so, which is why there were no pandemic preparations, despite warnings, a year ago and apparently almost no planning …

Australian coronavirus vaccine rollout brought forward to mid-to-late-February
4 years, 2 months ago

Australian coronavirus vaccine rollout brought forward to mid-to-late-February

ABC  

The rollout of a coronavirus vaccine in Australia will be brought forward to next month, with the Prime Minister saying the first groups are expected to receive a jab in mid-to-late-February. Key points: The Government is hoping to vaccinate 80,000 people a week initially The Government is hoping to vaccinate 80,000 people a week initially By the end of March …

Why isn't Australia rolling out a vaccine as quickly as Britain? Why is it taking longer?
4 years, 3 months ago

Why isn't Australia rolling out a vaccine as quickly as Britain? Why is it taking longer?

ABC  

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says COVID vaccinations will start rolling out to the British public next week. Mr Morrison said all four vaccines the Government was pursuing still had "stages to pass in the months ahead". "I wouldn't want to use the word guinea pigs with the UK," Dr Skeritt said. Mr Morrison said countries would have to work …

Potential Covid Vaccine, Being Developed by Queensland Univ, Could Be Available in 3rd Quarter of 2021: Australian Minister
4 years, 4 months ago

Potential Covid Vaccine, Being Developed by Queensland Univ, Could Be Available in 3rd Quarter of 2021: Australian Minister

News 18  

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday said a potential COVID-19 vaccine, being developed by the University of Queensland, could be available for all Australians in the third quarter of 2021. Biotech firm CSL has completed the manufacturing of the vaccine candidate to allow the third stage of clinical trials to begin. It means that this vaccine will potentially be …

The latest updates on the global search for a coronavirus vaccine
4 years, 5 months ago

The latest updates on the global search for a coronavirus vaccine

ABC  

One of the questions we're asked the most — for pretty much all the reasons — is when a coronavirus vaccine will be ready. The end of 2020 is fast approaching, but there are still suggestions a vaccine could be ready this year Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the chief of the World Health Organisation, said just that earlier this week. These …

Coronavirus: Australia expects Covid-19 vaccine still a year away
4 years, 5 months ago

Coronavirus: Australia expects Covid-19 vaccine still a year away

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Treasury and Health Departments developed economic modelling based …

Australia expects COVID-19 vaccination is still a year away
4 years, 5 months ago

Australia expects COVID-19 vaccination is still a year away

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Treasury and Health Departments developed economic modelling based …

Federal Budget 2020 reveals Australia headed to record debt of almost $1 trillion
4 years, 5 months ago

Federal Budget 2020 reveals Australia headed to record debt of almost $1 trillion

ABC  

Billions of dollars in fast-tracked tax cuts and younger worker wage subsidies underline the Federal Government's budget recovery pitch, as Australia's recession sends debt and deficits to record levels. Key points: Debt and deficits are set to hit record highs as coronavirus savages the economy Debt and deficits are set to hit record highs as coronavirus savages the economy Businesses …

Could the Government make a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory in Australia?
4 years, 6 months ago

Could the Government make a COVID-19 vaccine mandatory in Australia?

ABC  

When Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Melbourne radio station 3AW a COVID-19 vaccine would be "as mandatory as you can possibly make it" there was an immediate backlash from some groups. Previously, Fact Check determined that in Western Australia, the Public Health Act 2016 set out powers that allowed an authorised health official to direct someone to be vaccinated under …

Coronavirus vaccine could be tied to government payments, Health Minister Greg Hunt says
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus vaccine could be tied to government payments, Health Minister Greg Hunt says

ABC  

Australians who reject coronavirus vaccination could lose access to some welfare payments, Health Minister Greg Hunt has said, after the Prime Minister conceded vaccination would not be mandatory. Key points: The Prime Minister says any coronavirus vaccine will not be forced on people The Prime Minister says any coronavirus vaccine will not be forced on people However, the Government will …

COVID vaccination will be mandatory for all 25 million Australians: PM
4 years, 7 months ago

COVID vaccination will be mandatory for all 25 million Australians: PM

Deccan Chronicle  

Sydney: Australia should make any coronavirus vaccine compulsory for its 25 million citizens bar medical exemptions, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Wednesday, wading into a heated ethical debate. After reaching a deal for the country to manufacture a "promising" vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, Morrison said getting the jab should be "as mandatory as you can possibly …

Large increase in demand for flu vaccine leads to rationing in Victoria, New South Wales
6 years, 10 months ago

Large increase in demand for flu vaccine leads to rationing in Victoria, New South Wales

ABC  

A huge increase in demand for the influenza vaccine across Australia has led to rationing in Victoria and New South Wales. Australia's acting chief medical officer, Dr Tony Hobbs, is working to ensure more vaccines are brought into the country and more doses of the vaccine for the most at risk "will soon be made available," the federal Department of …

SA Government providing free flu vaccinations for children under five for the first time
6 years, 11 months ago

SA Government providing free flu vaccinations for children under five for the first time

ABC  

The South Australian Government has become the last state in Australia to provide free flu vaccinations for children aged five-and-under in an effort to reduce the record flu season seen in 2017. Health Minister Stephen Wade said 122 children in that age bracket had contracted the disease over the past year. Minister Wade said 122 children between six months and …

SA election: Labor promises free flu vaccinations for young children
7 years ago

SA election: Labor promises free flu vaccinations for young children

ABC  

Children under five will be provided with free flu vaccinations, Labor has promised if re-elected this month in South Australia. Labor said $1.5 million would be spent to ensure all SA families with children aged between six months and five years can be vaccinated before the winter flu season. "Our hospital system was put under extraordinary pressure last year as …

Free flu vaccinations for Victorian kids under five after 2017 epidemic
7 years, 1 month ago

Free flu vaccinations for Victorian kids under five after 2017 epidemic

ABC  

Victorian children between the age of six months and five years will be offered free influenza shots this year after a devastating 2017 flu season which put many young children in hospital. "People don't necessarily understand that influenza can cause death and what we learnt from last year's horrific flu season is that it wasn't just the elderly that were …

Millions of Australian adults are unvaccinated and it's increasing disease risk for all of us
8 years ago

Millions of Australian adults are unvaccinated and it's increasing disease risk for all of us

ABC  

Public attention has recently focused on improving vaccination rates in Australian infants and children. Coverage in eligible high-risk groups is even lower: around 40 per cent of people with medical or occupational risk factors receive their annual influenza vaccine, and only 13 per cent of Indigenous young adults with medical risk factors receive their pneumococcal vaccine. Rates of vaccination in …

Federal Government pushes to ban unvaccinated children from childcare centres
8 years ago

Federal Government pushes to ban unvaccinated children from childcare centres

ABC  

The Federal Government is pushing state and territory governments to ban unvaccinated children from childcare centres. Key points: Some states have stopped unvaccinated children from enrolling in child care Malcolm Turnbull wants all states and territories to take a strong stance Labor pushes for national education campaign Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has written to premiers and chief ministers urging them …

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