COVID-19 vaccines & treatments 2021

I'll provide my view of some issues surrounding the vaccination rates. It's a valid statistical sample of one and only applies to Canberra although it may be true elsewhere.

First, I messed it up and had a flu vaccination first, so had to wait two weeks before receiving an AZ vaccine. If I had used my brain better I would have received the first dose in April and by now be fully vaccinated.

I understand at present well over 50% of 60+ year olds in Canberra have yet to receive the first vaccine dose. Complacency by that group may be a factor there.

However, if choosing to attend a GP clinic, it may not have the capacity to run a vaccination clinic all day during surgery hours every day of the week it is open. As well, there may not have been a sufficient supply of the vaccines even if the clinics could have functioned on that basis. I understand AZ vaccine supply overall is plentiful now but it relies on getting it to where it is needed according to the demand. I don't know the logistics arrangements which are in place.

Last year flue vaccines were a bit of a mess, for example, the pharmacy had plenty but the GP surgery across the road had not received an supplies. It is possible a similar situation applies with the AZ vaccine at least.

So I wonder if these aspects (complacency, supply, resources) are factors in the apparent low vaccination rates for older people.

 

11.4mil doses have made it into arms in Australia - but only 3.45mil are fully vaccinated ... that means there are nearly 8mil of us impatiently waiting for our second dose. Once that second dose is done, that'd be around 50% of the adult population ... so we're getting there ... just not as fast as we'd like to

 

Interesting there @Lizzie.

I'll take the following information at face value. It's from the SMH.

 

I guessed it was somewhere but it was difficult to find.

Halfway down the page. It is difficult to read so best go to the actual site. I am assuming it is taken from Medicare data so there will be lag.

COVID-19 vaccines

 

Math was never a strong point

 

Those are for the total population.

This is for the adult population - 40% have had at least one dose.

 

hahahaha - you know me better than that - I'll stick by my math inability

 

Thanks @Firefly99.

The breakdown by age, first dose, second dose, State is in the link I provided in post #784 above which is the Department of Health's web-site.

 

Aussies ... again ... leadd the way in world changing research. Sadly, it shows how dangerous Long Covid can be

Hundreds of Melbourne COVID-19 survivors to participate in groundbreaking 'long COVID' study

 

I have read some businesses, such as CBA, are preparing to take any available AZ vaccines and offer it to their staff and families as well as possibly the general public. They would be using the health teams currently in place which already provide flu vaccinations.

They are not silly. Well aware of the need for a healthy workforce so there is a monetary aspect underlying this proposal.

I assume it would not be undertaken without regard to the risk of TTS. According to the ATAGI with the AZ vaccine:

"Although estimates of risk based on small numbers of cases are imprecise, the risk of TTS is estimated in Australia at around:

• 2.6 per 100,000 in those <60 years; and
• 1.7 per 100,000 in those ≥60 years."

"ATAGI reinforces that the benefits of vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca strongly outweigh the risks of adverse effects in all Australians ≥60 years."

There is a great deal more in the ATAGi advisory which can be accessed here:

ATAGI update following weekly COVID-19 meeting – 28 July 2021

 

An article from The Conversation on AZ for those over 18 yo, which I'm guessing covers those who post on the forum, about the benefits of the AZ in the absence of Pfizer vaccine. Clearly written I think.

Over 18 and considering the AstraZeneca vaccine? This may help you decide

The other articles are an interesting read as well.

 

It appears there was a miscount on vaccination information for the ACT in late July.

 

If this is an indication of the issues faced......

"More than 11,000 people in the 30- to 39-year-old age group have rushed to book their Pfizer vaccinations, overwhelming the ACT Health booking system before 8am despite registering two weeks in advance.

The ACT government will start allocating vaccinations to the next age group from Tuesday morning after opening eligibility to accelerate the program.

The government had invited 30 to 39 year olds to pre-register for their jab two weeks ago in attempt to streamline the process and avoid lengthy delays for the booking system.

But some have reported being unable to book their appointment, despite responding to a message they received just hours after the age group became eligible.

One ACT resident said he received a text message inviting him to book at 7.21am and was told the queue was full at 7.36am.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said all booking allocations had been exhausted until at least mid September. Earlier bookings may become available if vaccine supply increases."

 

The incentives and prizes are unnecessary. They just need to provide the vaccines and make them easily accessible.

 

A $300 payment is a fairly small carrot. For some $300 is a decent amount of money, for others it's a nothing amount.

This is one time I'd suggest a bigger stick works better than a small carrot. Restrict people from large events and international travel based on vaccination status.

I don't think it's right to impose these restrictions in the long term, but I think it's perfectly reasonable to restrict unvacinated gatherings whilst there is still a declared 'state of pandemic'.

 

Some interesting data coming out about the VAXCClNE. A recent study of infection outbreak showed that 74% of those infected were fully vaccinated in USA town

Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, including COVID-19 ...