Australia begins COVID-19 vaccination
- par Xavier Trudeau
- dans Financer
- — Fév 22, 2021
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday, calling the start of the nation's vaccination programme a 'massive step that will enable it to return to normal.
"She's taking part in what is a very historic day for our country", Morrison said.
Australian Prime Minister says Facebook is back at the negotiating table after the tech giant's lockdown this week news on his site in the countryside.
"This vaccination program launches us down our path out of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021".
In multicultural Australia, the government is urging minority groups to receive a coronavirus vaccine.
"Tomorrow our vaccination programme starts, so as a curtain-raiser today we're here making some very important points - that it's safe, that it's important, and we need to start with those who are most vulnerable and are on the front line".
There were no locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria for the second consecutive day after three people in the same family were recorded COVID-positive last week.
The first phase of the program will involve vaccinating residents and staff in aged and disability care, along with border and hotel quarantine workers and people in frontline healthcare roles.
Chinese Ambassador to Colombia Lan Hu, who was also present to welcome the arrival of the shipment, said the fight against the pandemic "has been the priority" of bilateral relations since a year ago and that the arrival of the vaccines represents an opportunity to help the country return to normality.
Under the Australian Government's plan, quarantine and border workers and aged care residents are on track to be vaccinated by April 2021.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said vaccines were being prioritised "so those most at risk, and those most vulnerable, can get access first".
"The Australian Government has given clear advice on the phases showing who will have access when".
"Today we have released a simple eligibility checker. You can find it at australia.gov.au", Minister Hunt said.
Up to 4 million Australians are expected to be inoculated by March, with Morrison among a small group receiving the first round of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Over 50 million doses of AstraZeneca ordered by the Government will be manufactured in Melbourne.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will be administered through hub and spoke hospital vaccination clinics in each state and territory, and in aged care and disability care facilities across the country.
The number of locations will increase as more doses arrive in the country.
This came ahead of the national rollout of the coronavirus vaccine from Monday.
