Thread by @BiancaMinnie4

1/ Emerging information on the govt's 'negotiations' with #Pfizer is alarming.
Greg Hunt has been avoiding answering questions on when discussions started but claimed official negotiations didn't begin until Dec 2020.
Listen to Dr Norman Swan & Raf Epstein. ⬇️

https://twitter.com/mister_wynn/status/1406461964205789188

2/ In #qt on Thursday Greg Hunt said the govt commenced "negotiations with #Pfizer...after the end of June". He said govt decided to back #AstraZeneca instead, on the basis of medical advice. Callum Foote's article (Michael West Media 19 June) suggests this could not...

3/ ...have been possible. Bill Bowtell, UNSW Adjunct Professor of Strategic Health Policy, that advice must have been based on “commercial and political advice”.
michaelwest.com.au/governments-ap…

4/ Callum Foote goes on to say that the govt could not have possibly decided on “medical advice”, as it was not available at the time (the USFDA’s approval of Pfizer – didn’t occur until the end of 2020).

5/ Callum Foote's sources have said it appears the government decided to go with AZ for financial reasons. This appears to align with the sources who spoke to Dr Norman Swan & Raf Epstein, with regard to the "nickel and diming" with #Pfizer, trying to haggle over the cost.

6/ Dr Norman Swan spoke of his anger about this. Bill Bowtell, speaking to Callum Foote, suggested questions of cost “should have been completely immaterial given the opportunity to secure best vaccines in shortest possible time”.

7/ @Senator_Patrick has been frustrated at the lack of transparency that is a hallmark of the Morrison govt. Yet, Liberals are clearly speaking to journalists, frustrated with the #MorrisonVaccineBungle, the inept handling of the whole process.

8/ So, despite secrecy around these processes, the Morrison ship appears to be leaking. In terms of truths coming to light, this must be a good thing.
Yet we are all affected by the #MorrisonFailure. Multiple failures. #auspol

9/ We have the Delta variant escaping quarantine or as the result of lack of oversight in arrangements related to quarantine. We have low levels of vaccination & supply issues, so speeding up vaccination is not likely to happen in the short term. #auspol

10/ I dare say the #Pfizer story has some way to run. The Morrison govt will try & cover up, deflect, whatever it takes. It will try to hamper @Senator_Patrick's efforts, that is for certain. However, on such an important issue, the truth must come out. #MorrisonVaccineBungle.

21 June Senate Select Committee - COVID 19.
First Asst Sec COVID Taskforce Health Dept provides evidence that a meeting was held with #Pfizer on 10July 2020 but no detailed discussions were conducted around specific numbers of vaccines for supply.

1st ASec says many meetings/discussions/phone calls with #Pfizer between 10Jul2 meeting and the Nov agreement, negotiations were conducted, many versions of the agreement went back & forth. She testifies that no population-wide offer was made by #Pfizer to Govt.

According to 1stASec, Pfizer's offer was for 10m doses. Sen Gallagher asks Prof Murphy, chair of Science & Industry Tech Advisory Grp (SITAG), was there a coincidence that SITAG Terms of Ref released on 19Aug20, the same day as PM announced the 'deal' with #AstraZeneca...

..., which was actually a Letter of Intent (not a deal). The agreement was signed on 4Sep20 & announced 7Sep20. Prof Murphy says SITAG approved all vaccine deals.
SITAG met on 24Aug, ahead of AZ deal being finalised.
After, the PM had 'announced' the deal, which wasn't a deal...

...5 days earlier.
There is no public information available about when SITAG meet, their recommendations to Govt etc. Because they provide formal advice to Cabinet, nothing can be released under Cab confidentiality rules.