The Australian Government’s response
Below is an excerpt of longer form research, which can be found here.
Almost every turn in the rollout of AstraZeneca in Australia has been riddled with contradiction.
On 12th March 2021, when Scott Morrison (who was the acting Health Minister at the time whilst Greg Hunt was on sick leave) was asked if he was personally worried about the news that Denmark, Norway and Iceland had suspended the use of AstraZeneca, Morrison said he was not,[1] and that the TGA’s advice on the vaccine remained unchanged.[2]
Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Health [7th July 2021]: “It’s safe to say that if we had had the [vaccine] supply that we wanted … we wouldn’t now be in this situation [lockdown] here in NSW.”[3]
Citizens in NSW largely abided by restrictions in an almost four-month mandated lockdown during the second half of 2021 to keep each other safe. Gladys Berejiklian, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and government documents can be quoted as stating at various points in mid-late 2021 that lifting vaccination rates would end lockdowns – lockdowns though, were implemented largely because of low vaccination rates. Had the government procured Pfizer when it was offered to them in mid-2020, more Australians would have been vaccinated, lockdown would have been less likely, and the melting lava of messaging spewing about anyone over the age of 18 having to take AstraZeneca because there was no other option available – would not have occurred.
Peter Dutton [9th July 2021]: “Defence Minister Peter Dutton said AstraZeneca remained safe and effective. “If your doctor advises you that it is safe to have AstraZeneca, please take it,” he said. “More so than ever we need people to be vaccinated.””[4]
Morrison then flipped the vaccine rollout conversation to say “the timelines are now in the hands of all Australians” and “that is entirely up to how the nation responds to this challenge we’re setting for ourselves, each and every one of us.”[5] Following the advice from ATAGI until the 28th June 2021 has saved lives from AstraZeneca in Australia, although it seems Morrison blamed ATAGI doctors for the government’s mistakes in procurement and the slow Covid vaccine rollout.[6]
– Katie Lees’ Family
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-12/scott-morrison-astrazeneca-pfizer-covid-vaccine-rollout-delays/13241496
[2] https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/no-biological-reason-to-link-blood-clots-to-covid
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/07/nsws-gold-standard-on-covid-tarnished-as-gladys-berejiklian-faces-acid-test
[4] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-09/australia-pfizer-doses-announcement-scott-morrison-vaccines/100280104
[5] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-canberra-act-9
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jul/14/scott-morrison-blames-atagi-doctors-for-australias-slow-covid-vaccine-rollout
Morrison pushes AstraZeneca
Below is an excerpt of longer form research, which can be found here.
Scott Morrison made a calculated decision on 28th June 2021, by introducing a new no fault indemnity scheme for general practitioners, making it easier for the public to be recommended AstraZeneca from GP’s who will now be protected against any legal case.
29th June 2021, ABC, 7:30 Report, Laura Tingle interviews Dr Omar Khorsid.
“DR OMAR KHORSID, AMA PRESIDENT: Well, the announcement was quite a surprise to GPs around the country and to the AMA and whilst there certainly are good points in terms of potentially speeding up that rollout, it does add to the confusion around the program because, of course, for those under the age of 60, our experts have recommended the Pfizer vaccine.
So we have tried to really clarify that and say look, the recommendations are Pfizer but the vaccine, the AZ is licensed for those aged over the age of 18 and if they are willing to take it up, then at least the Prime Minister has given them that option as of today.”[1]
A new no fault indemnity scheme for GP’s raises many questions, such as; why would there be a risk of a legal case? Why announce an indemnity scheme for GP’s on 28th June 2021 if there was no risk? Scott Morrison knew about the risk, and went ahead anyway in the wake of media coverage criticising his government’s rollout as one of the worst performers in the OECD with only 3% fully vaccinated as at 17th June 2021.[2] It seems Scott Morrison had his mind set on vaccine targets, and his international reputation. Whilst the UK and US were securing doses of Pfizer in mid 2020,[3] Australian government Health Minister Greg Hunt didn’t take up the opportunity to until five months later.[4] This critical failure left all Australians vulnerable, and the eleven tragic deaths can also be attributed to this decision.
Anecdotally, a GP shared anonymously – “the government lied” [in relation to risks associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine], and another health professional shared “people will die.”
[14th July 2021] Prime Minister Scott Morrison: “It’s [COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca] not banned for people under 60 or 50, never has been. […] Go and talk to your doctor. And, that’s, you know, informed consent. It’s a free country. […] And, yes, I know ATAGI has been very cautious and that had a massive impact on the rollout of the vaccine program. It really did. It slowed it considerably and it put us behind, and we wish that wasn’t the result but it was. Those decisions are made independent of Government, and should be. And so, you know, if we want a system where drug control in Australia is not run by politicians but by the professional medicos, well, sometimes that means they’ll be very cautious in circumstances like this.”[5]
Yet at this point, drug control for AstraZeneca in Australia is being run on Scott Morrison’s 28th June [2021] decision to open AZ for anyone aged over 18. Although ATAGI’s advice since 8th April 2021 was that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for anyone under the age of 50, and from 17th June 2021 – anyone under the age of 60, it would not be until ten days after Scott’s 28th June decision, that ATAGI would update its official risk/benefits advice on the 24th July 2021 to say that: “All individuals aged 18 years and above in greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age, should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. This is on the basis of the increasing risk of COVID-19 and ongoing constraints of Comirnaty (Pfizer) supplies. […] in a large outbreak, the benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca are greater than the risk of rare side effects for all age groups.”[6]
Between 28th June 2021 and 24th July 2021, GP’s were acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, and in this period of time, the risks of taking AstraZeneca for people under 60 in Australia did not outweigh the benefits according to ATAGI.
– Katie Lees’ Family
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/is-the-updated-astrazeneca-health-advice-a-good/13424234
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-56825920
[3] https://www.sbs.com.au/news/greg-hunt-defends-pfizer-vaccine-talks-after-claims-he-ignored-early-meeting-request/a5cfadd9-400a-4a9a-90df-19f996cfdd5f
[4] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australia-secures-further-50-million-doses-covid-19-vaccine
[5] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/interview-ray-hadley-2gb-140721
[6] https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-statement-response-to-nsw-covid-19-outbreak-24th-july-2021
Katie Lees 