Health workers at Perth Fourth Hospital are in self-quarantine while scammers target people looking for Covid vaccines. Follow the latest news and updates live
Mon 19 Apr 2021 09.15 BST
First published on Sun 18 Apr 2021 22.43 BST
9:08 a.m. BST09: 08
There we leave the live blog for Monday. Thanks for going with me. Here’s what we learned today:
My colleague Matilda Boseley will be back with you in the morning with the latest news.
8.51 a.m. BST08: 51
The Prime Minister’s Office has just released the statement from today’s national cabinet meeting. This is the part of what was agreed:
The national cabinet approved in principle a number of changes to the Australian vaccination strategy for Covid-19 that will be presented for approval at the next National Cabinet meeting, including options to to bring vaccinations forward for over 50 years. Old under the Australian Priority Group 2A of the Covid-19 vaccination strategy and the readiness of more state and territorial operated vaccination centers, including mass vaccination centers, with increasing vaccine supply.
The national cabinet reiterated that general practice remains the main model for the adoption of Vaccinations for Australians over 50, with states and territories exploring options to complement rollout with expanded state vaccination centers.
The Commonwealth will continue to vaccinate elderly care home residents with Pfizer using an in-reach model In essence, they have agreed to consider a policy to push vaccinations beyond 50 years of age, take advantage of the on-train supply of AstraZeneca, and prepare mass vaccination sites like Victoria is already doing.
This reflection will take place on Thursday, so that after the meeting on Thursday we The actual decision will be made on Thursday.
8.37 a.m. BST08: 37
This can be submitted according to rules I thought were already in place (at least in Victoria) but people working in the hotel quarantine system in WA will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 from May 10th.
Workers are already wiped weekly and have daily saliva tests, but security guards, cleaners and all hotel staff, including ADF staff and WA police, must be vaccinated as part of the program.
Around 60% of workers have agreed to have their first dose of Pfizer vaccines and 31% have received their second dose. Getting the vaccine to work in WA’s hotel quarantine system wasn’t my first preference, but it’s vital in WA’s defense against Covid-19.
Hotel workers are in the highest risk category, as they continue to be exposed to international arrivals. In the past two weeks alone, our quarantine hotels have seen 21 confirmed Covid-19 cases in returning travelers.
It is important to ensure that hotel quarantine workers are vaccinated to reduce the likelihood of contracting Covid-19 , transfer it to others and significantly reduce the risk of transmission.
8.25 a.m. BST08: 25
We didn’t have any press releases or press conferences today from the national cabinet meeting, but AAP has this:
When Queensland Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk emerged from the meeting, she told reporters in Brisbane that it had a “good Discussion « given about the launch of the vaccine.
» It’s a big step backwards in the launch of the vaccine, « she said, adding that » firm decisions « would be announced later in the week.
Up When asked about a proposal to allow Australians returning from overseas to quarantine at home, she said no formal proposal had been made.
Tasmania has highlighted and offered a special role in resetting Vaccinate elderly carers and the disabled who should be covered by the federal program.
New South Wales Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian previously said that everyone in the approach According to the introduction of the vaccine it should be “far less rigid”.
« Given that we know that there is no problem with someone over 50 having AstraZeneca and that there is considerable supply in Australia right now we really need to get on with it, « she said.
8.15 a.m. BST08.15
According to Dutton, the Chief of Defense, Angus Campbell, accepted the reversal of his decision on the quote:
Well, I obviously spoke to the Chief of Defense and told him my decision, and he accepted that . Angus Campbell is an incredibly capable and professional person. I have the greatest respect for him. I’ve worked with him and a finer Australian you couldn’t find. He, like many people, is struck by the Brereton report, some of the shocking allegations, and his response at the time was appropriate.
My decision, with all the facts in mind, means that we can say to the Australian Defense Forces personnel involved: “We want you to wear this medal on Anzac Day. We want you to continue to be proud of the service you have provided. “He accepts all of that.
8.10 a.m. BST08: 10
Defense Secretary Peter Dutton has just commented on this decision not to revoke quotes from around 3,000 special forces at a press conference in Perth.
There are 39,000 men and women in the Australian armed forces who have been involved in recent conflicts Served our name in the Middle East, and they did it because they want to protect our country, they want to protect the rest of the world from terrorism, from the evils of ISIS.
I noticed before that we are Yazidi women brought to our country. They were enslaved, raped and murdered by ISIL. This is the kind of adversary our defense personnel faced. Where there have been acts that have been quite remarkable and recognized by quoting the unit, I want this to be recognized.
It doesn’t diminish that some people did wrong and people will be held accountable for these allegations if they prove correct.
7.57 a.m. BST07: 57
Russell also strongly supported Secretary of Defense Peter Dutton’s decision not to retract quotations from all special forces serving in Afghanistan:
« I can’t believe it took so long … I know – I have spoke to some families of the fallen, these 21 veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in Afghanistan and lost the quote, just the sigh of relief they chose – I had a mother who spoke to me about it that she tried to remove the back of her son’s presentation to remove the quote. They want to talk about trauma, 10 years after the date of losing their son, that is the trauma she shouldn’t be going through Minister Dutton’s decision has just sparked absolute shockwaves of hope and support – and healthy people to families and veterans who did nothing wrong mind conveyed. “
7.54 a.m. BST07.54
Voice for Veterans Founder and Retired Special Forces Major Heston Russell has welcomed the Royal Commission on Veterans Suicide and outlined how he believes it will work with the government’s proposed role as National Commissioner.
He said that once the commission starts, the national commissioner will not look into suicide cases until after that date, while the royal commission will have all cases by then.
He says the person or persons appointed to head the royal commission shouldn’t be former defense personnel, they should be eminent Australians:
“We cannot let a former defense person in. That was a large part of the veterans community’s failed admission of the provisional national commissioner. Unfortunately, Dr. – formerly – Brigadier Bernadette Boss a former member. The church has had enough. We need an excellent Australian that we have plenty of to be able to do with no clue of problems or connectivity with the defense, to give him independence and part of the main reason we have a royal commission rather than the interim commissioner or the national have called for a commissioner model. «
7.31 a.m. BST07: 31
Would a Labor government be in a different position with vaccines? Butler says yes because contracts with Pfizer should have been signed earlier than last December, and the prime minister should try to sign more contracts:
If I were prime minister, I would call other countries. For example, we know that the US will soon be producing more Pfizer than it needs. I would call if I were Prime Minister trying to secure Pfizer supplies available worldwide.
I accept that it won’t be easy. I accept that I think some bad government decisions over the past year have put us in a position that is difficult to get out of. For now, every effort should be made to bring more doses of the Pfizer into the country, especially given the advice we have received under the age of 50. I also find it a terrible shame that the government didn’t make a deal with Moderna, the other highly potent mRNA vaccine. «
7.26 a.m. BST07: 26
Shadow Health Secretary Mark Butler tells ABC that other states should take over Victoria’s mass vaccination centers, but with confidence that they will receive enough Covid-19 vaccine to meet demand.
He says GPs should be included in the plan to deliver high numbers of vaccines while some only get between 50 and 100 vaccines a week.
The shadow minister also says there is a strong case for the Pfizer -Vaccine prioritized for children under 50 and reserved for healthcare workers under 50 who have not yet been vaccinated. He admitted that there had been a « loss of confidence » in the AstraZeneca vaccine for people over 50.
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Ref: https://www.theguardian.com
