Transcript – Press Conference – Canberra

E&OE…                       Topics: suspension of travel arrangements with NZ     GREG HUNT: I’m joined by Professor Michael Kidd, the Acting Chief Medical Officer, and we’re here to report on advice from the medical expert panel, or AHPPC, received during the course of the afternoon to the Government and upon which the Government has acted.…

Pfizer vaccine approved

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has today provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. The Pfizer vaccine has met strict standards for safety, quality and efficacy. The TGA provisional approval is for individuals 16 years of age and older. Two doses will be required – at least 21 days apart. A priority…

Australia continues to set record vaccination rates

Australian families have clearly demonstrated that we are a vaccination nation, with childhood immunisation rates reaching record levels in December 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, parents followed expert health advice and continued to take their children to receive their shots, pushing five-year old vaccination rates beyond the aspirational target of 95 per cent coverage. Australia’s…

Transcript – Doorstop – Melbourne

E&OE…                       Topics: Vaccine roll out, NZ travel bubble   GREG HUNT: Thank you everybody and I’m delighted to be able to provide an update to both the vaccine rollout and additional protections with regards to COVID-19 for international travellers into Australia.   I think, firstly and most importantly, it’s important to be able to…

Mobilising Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine workforce

The Australian Government is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout by securing an additional vaccine workforce and working to deliver essential training to everyone who will administer the vaccinations.   Australia’s vaccine roll out will be carried out through hospitals, General practices, state and Commonwealth vaccination clinics, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and Pharmacies.  …

Transcript – Doorstop – Melbourne

E&OE…                       Topics: Removal of last remaining hotspot definition; Pfizer vaccine; Australian Open.   GREG HUNT: Good morning, and thank you for joining us today.   I’m pleased to be able to provide advice that the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has today removed the last remaining hotspot definition in Australia.   He…

Transcript – Doorstop – Mount Martha

E&OE…                       Topics: $38 million for diabetes and cardiovascular research, International and domestic COVID vaccination update; Vaccine rollout – open call for general practice vaccinations next week; Emerging strains posing risk to vaccine development; Pregnant women and COVID vaccination; Acting Prime Minister’s comments; Craig Kelly; National approach to traffic light system; Health infrastructure; Vaccine rollout…

$38 million available for research into diabetes, heart disease

Two new medical research centres will be funded by the Morrison Government to produce rapid improvements in preventing, treating and curing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and their complications.   The Government will provide $10 million each for the new research centres ($20 million overall), as well as $18 million to support translational research projects.   Expressions…