Thread by @MackayIM

@4corners notes Australia's strategy to vaccinate has been shrouded in secrecy.
#fourcorners

Interesting watching a GP basically tell an elderly person, don't worry about clots, when they asked what to do if that happens
#4corners.

Pfizer contacted Aus for "informal" discussions in a June 2020. No deal until Nov 2020.
AZ was a known platform, simple cold chain.
SciTAG met in mid-Aug to review the landscape.
C'wealth kept vaccine planning to itself, States lacking info
#4corners

Prof Brendan Murphy defers to Commercial sensitivities as reason for such Comms issues.
Chats were had with AZ makers.
UQ vax had issues & was abandoned.
10mill Pfizer doses purchased.
#4corners

Federal Govt made clear that it would be in charge. To this point, the States had been running the Covid-19 response. They are good at Service delivery.
Rollout began Feb 21st.
#4corners

PM stated we'd get through the whole population by Oct.
Then Pfizer doses stopped. Fed Govt supply to States was unreliable. Supplies sent direct to Hospitals.
General Practitioners (GPs) getting few doses. These are major vaccinators normally.
#4corners

Then came blood clots in Austria associated with AZ vax.
Aus was still committed to AZ. Prof Murphy fronted the media noting these incidents were not a significant issue. Looking to Europe.
2nd April a AZ vaccinated 44yo man developed clots in Aus.

#4corners

8th April, Aus advice changed to commended AZ only for those over 50yo.

#4corners

24 cases of TTS, 1 fatal to date among ~3.5 million doses given.
Fuelled concerns about vax safety (well, AZ safety honestly).
Prof Murphy blames sensationalist media for any hesitancy. But no blame for lack of educational Comms?
#4corners

Dr John Gerrard assures us we will get clusters and we'll lose control. As happened with H1N1. Prof Nolan leans on winter being a threat. This seems...unfounded, a bit wrong & quite alarmist. I worry about trust erosion with these sorts of stamements.
#4corners