Tag Archives: oceania

headline

PM announces additional one million Moderna vaccines secured from European Union

A further one million doses of the Moderna vaccine has been secured by the federal government and are set to arrive in Australia next weekend, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

The extra doses have been acquired from a number of nations throughout the European Union, in particular Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and Bulgaria.

"In addition, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is now recommending Moderna for everyone aged 12 to 59," Mr Morrison said.

READ MORE: New South Wales records 1262 new local COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, including man in his 20s

"That means everyone from 12 to 59…they'll be able to go out there and a get a jab.

"They'll be able to be able to go into their pharmacies, family members, kids, parents, are able to go and get a family jab."

A significant portion of the vaccines will be distributed to Victoria, to combat the worsening outbreak there.

A combined total of 400,000 doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be distributed across the state over the course of September.

Mr Morrison said that the doses will be shared around 3600 community pharmacies across the country, with 1800 of those to begin receiving doses throughout the week of Monday September 20.

He said that between now and the end of October, any Australian who wants a vaccination and is aged 12 and over can receive one.

"In October we're going to have enough vaccines in the country to have offered everyone a jab meaning we'll be able to take the next steps in our plan to safely reopen Australia," Mr Morrison said.

"First thing's first to take the steps to safely reopening – get vaccinated. The next few weeks are going to be critical to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to get the vaccine.

"As all these extra doses arrive in Australia we'll see queues for vaccines cut at the more than 9,000 places you can get vaccinated. Mum, dad and the kids will also be able to go to their local community pharmacist to get vaccinated as a family all at the same time.

"These are doses of hope for families in particular as we move to reopen Australia safely."

The doses are in addition to supply of recent vaccines secured from the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Poland.

More than 22,000,000 jabs have been administered across the country so far.

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Vaccination measures set to ramp up after Victoria records 392 cases

Victoria has recorded another 392 new local cases of COVID-19 on the first day of a three-week vaccination blitz targeting hotspots around the state.

Of today's new cases, 285 are not linked to existing outbreaks or clusters, while 48,00 tests conducted in the last day.

There are now 3112 active cases in Victoria, with 147 in hospital, including 34 in intensive care.

READ MORE: Sydney man in his 20s dies as NSW records more than 1200 COVID-19 cases

https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1436822276708593665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Across the state, 36,400 doses were administered yesterday at state vaccination clinics.

Just over 65 per cent of Victoria's eligible population has now received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Premier has announced new measures to ramp up vaccination rates where they are lowest across the state.

"We are very seen to take the vaccination program to local communities, to families," he said.

"Today we can announce a series of pop-ups at 100 priority postcodes, postcodes where there are case numbers, postcodes where there are perhaps not enough people going through the vaccination program."

READ MORE: Pregnant women warned to get jab as Victoria records 450 new virus cases

Mr Andrews said many of the 70 sites would be at schools.

"These pop-ups are just another step towards reducing any barriers there might be to being part of this vaccination program."

Mr Andrews said the popup vaccination clinics would be opened in stages and would add to the existing 55 state vaccination hubs.

"We can't open all of those pop-ups in one day," he said.

"The first of those are five community-based pop-ups. They will be in areas that need the most, so he in outbreak areas where cases are potentially growing, so in Hume, Dandenong and Casey."

Mr Andrews said more details of Victoria's roadmap to reopening would be decided in meetings in the coming week, refusing to provide any certainty about schooling arrangements for Term 4.

"I hope to be able to make some announcements in a week's time that give people clarity, as best you can throughout a pandemic, about all of these rules."

Today's cases and areas of concern

Of today's 392 cases:

  • 255 cases are in Melbourne's northern suburbs, including 137 in Hume, 49 in Moreland and 42 in Whittlesea
  • 89 cases are in Melbourne's western suburbs – 30 in Wyndham, 19 in Hobsons Bay, 13 in Brimbank, 11 in Melbourne, seven in Melton and eight in Moonee Valley
  • 38 cases are in the south-east of Melbourne, predominately in Casey. Six are in the Greater Dandenong area, three in Port Phillip
  • In the east, four are in Stonnington and four in the Yarra Ranges
  • Five are in regional Victoria – one in Greater Geelong, one in Mildura, one in Macedon Ranges and two in Gippsland

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dan O'Brien said a number of cases were associated with childcare and schools, including in Truganina, Glenroy and Roxburgh Park.

Professor O'Brien said there was a "significant outbreak" at Fitzroy Community School involving at least 30 cases among staff and students.

Yesterday saw 450 new COVID-19 cases in the state – the biggest daily increase since the start of the Delta outbreak.

A traffic sign with restriction warnings stand on the Western Highway between Melbourne and Ballarat.

Health Minister Martin Foley pushed for vaccine uptake, stating there is "still more capacity out there" to do more.

"We could do a whole lot more good by getting those vaccines that are in storage into more Victorians' arms.

"So, please continue to come forward."

More than 40,000 people were given a vaccination in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday, meaning that now 65.2 per cent of the adult population has now received one dose.

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New South Wales records 1262 new local COVID-19 cases, seven deaths

New South Wales has recorded 1262 new local COVID-19 cases in the last day and another seven deaths, including a man in his 20s from Western Sydney.

Speaking during the last live daily health update, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that 78 per cent of over 16-year-olds now had at least one dose of a vaccine.

More than 105,000 tests were conduced in the last day.

READ MORE: Queensland records no new local COVID-19 cases following close call earlier in the week

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1436857990062100481

There are 1206 are now in hospital with COVID-19, 92 of whom require ventilation.

Ms Berejiklian said that there has been "some stabilisation in local government areas of concern", which she described as pleasing.

But warned that the most concerning areas where the virus is "picking up pace" continues to be in some suburbs in south-western Sydney as well as some suburbs in inner-Sydney.

"We want to be sure that when we get to that 70 per cent double dose figure but we have managed to reduce our cases as much as we can to allow us to continue planning forward," she said.

Of today's deaths, they include a man in his 20s from Western Sydney, and a woman in her 40s, a woman in her 50s, a man in his 50s, a man in his 70s, a man in his 80s and woman in her 80s from each from south-western Sydney.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the man in his 20s "had significant underlying health conditions and was unvaccinated".

She also believes the state will be able to reach 90 per cent single-dose vaccinations.

"I want to see 80 per cent first dose next week, and I am confident we will get there around Tuesday or Wednesday," she said.

READ MORE: Victoria records 392 new local COVID-19 cases

"And then my challenge to the New South Wales community is, it's get to 90 per cent the following week.

"I suppose I am being a bit optimistic, but I think we can actually get about 90 per cent first dose.

"I am pleased we have got the 12 to 15-year-old vaccination is coming on, as announced by the Commonwealth on Monday, so that group will have access to vaccination."

Dr Chant said that while is pleased to see some stabilisation of case numbers in LGAs of concern, there are now concerns over rising case numbers in some inner-city suburbs.

Suburbs like Glebe and Camperdown, Redfern and Waterloo have been flagged as new suburbs with significantly increasing case numbers as well as Punchbowl in Sydney's west.

"My message is, please come forward to get tested and vaccinated," Dr Chant said.

"Redfern community Centre is a new COVID testing site and it is open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm.

"We have got three Pfizer vaccines now available at various locations including at Ashfield Leagues, Green Square Library at Zetland, the Morris EMR Indoor Sports Centre at Riverwood, Club Burwood, and the National Centre for Indigenous Education at Redfern."

Crowds take in fine weather at Bondi Beach.

Asked on whether authorities still expect to see peak case numbers this coming week, Dr Chant said she remains hopeful.

"I am still hoping that we peak. But to some extent, those projections depend how effectively we can control the spread outside the local government areas of concern," she said.

Yesterday, a record 1599 new cases were detected along with and eight more deaths.

NSW has now administered a total of eight million vaccinations since the outbreak of the pandemic.