NSW in limbo over second Pfizer vaccine jab, as two thirds of hotel quarantine workers have had their first dose
Eighty-six-year-old John Healy was the first man in Australia to be vaccinate alongside Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
But 10 days later, in his Northern Beaches nursing home, he hasn’t heard a thing about when or how he will get his second Pfizer jab.
“A little bit disorganised I think,” Mr Healy said.
Mr Healy’s feelings are shared by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“To be one team we just need to make sure we are sharing information. It would help us enormously which aged care facilities had received the vaccine,” Ms Berejiklian said.
NSW is itching to get on with the vaccination program. Already two thirds of hotel quarantine workers have had their first dose.
The state government has decided to push on and fast-track the second phase of the rollout.
From next Wednesday, St George and Hornsby Hospitals will give out the country’s first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
What’s known as phase 1a and 1b are now merged in NSW.
On the list are more healthcare workers, families of quarantine workers, as well as international air crew and their families who live here too.
Qantas pilot captain Debbie Slade said she looked forward to “getting back in the air again” with safer travel and borders re-opening within Australia and internationally.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said “anyone who could be bringing COVID to our shores are the groups we want to make sure are absolutely protected”.
As the HMAS Canberra departed Garden Island on a training mission, their colleagues were preparing to be sent all over the country to help get vaccinations into our nursing homes.
Adding to her frustrations, Ms Berejiklian said she wasn’t told about the deployment, first hearing it on 9News.
The international travel ban has been extended until June.
On this front the NSW government won’t argue with that, they are also thrilled with the number of doses in the country.
They just want the Commonwealth to get it out the door faster.
“We don’t want to see doses sitting there without being distributed,” Ms Berejiklian said
