CANBERRA: Australia is set to start administering the first COVID-19 vaccines in February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison mentioned on Thursday (Jan 7), because the nation strikes to speed up its inoculation program, and two states attempt to contain outbreaks.
Morrison mentioned Australia’s pharmaceutical regulator is predicted to approve the usage of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine by the January end, with the first doses issued within weeks.
“We are now in a position where to believe we will begin vaccinations in mid-to-late February,” Morrison informed reporters in Canberra, Australia has reported so far just more than 28,500 COVID-19 cases and 909 demises since the pandemic started, with border closures and speedy tracking methods helping keep numbers comparatively low.
Authorities are attempting to contain new virus clusters in its largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.
Probably the most populous state, New South Wales, the epicenter of the nation’s latest outbreak, on Thursday mentioned it recorded zero local COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours.
Australia has ordered 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It has also struck a deal with AstraZeneca that sees the vaccine produced locally, Morrison mentioned regulatory approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine is expected in February.
Once both are approved, Morrison mentioned Australia’s aims to vaccinate 80,000 individuals every week. This may then be expanded within the following 4 to 6 weeks, and by the end of Mar 4 million individuals might be vaccinated, The acceleration within the COVID-19 vaccination program comes amid heightened concern about the spread of the virus globally.
Australia’s national Cabinet will meet a month earlier than scheduled on Friday, Morrison mentioned, as authorities search to stop the spread of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 that emerged in Britain. A handful of worldwide arrivals in Australia have tested positive for the UK strain.
The Cabinet meeting will consider proposals to strengthen travel guidelines for its residents and residents coming back from abroad, Morrison wrote in a Fb post late on Wednesday.
Australian media reported the government has plans to introduce mandatory COVID-19 testing for all foreign travelers before they board their flights to the nation.
Since last March, the nation has shut its borders to all non-citizens and non-permanent residents.
