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Australia news live: Covid experts consider EU regulator’s advice on AstraZeneca and blood clots Australia news live: Covid experts consider EU regulator’s advice on AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots
(32 minutes later)
UK decision to offer under-30s an alternative to Oxford jab could knock confidence in Australia’s vaccine rollout. Follow updates liveUK decision to offer under-30s an alternative to Oxford jab could knock confidence in Australia’s vaccine rollout. Follow updates live
We have just got word that Scott Morrison will hold a press conference with the new attorney-general Michaelia Cash at 9am AEDT.
I’ll bring you all the updates from that when he stands up.
A study from the Australian National University shows that young women are the most reluctant group in Australia to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
But, fortunately (or I guess maybe, unfortunately), according to their research these opinions could change depending on their level of confidence in the government.
(Wow, I wonder if the government has done anything to lose the trust of young women recently?)
The study tracked a nationally representative group of 3,030 people throughout the pandemic, analysing their attitudes toward vaccination.
Dr Diana Cardenas, who lead the study, said young women were the least willing:
ANU professor Kate Reynolds said older people were the most willing group, with more than 64% saying they would get the jab as soon as possible.
But one of the most important factors was trust in the government:
Their study show only 30 per cent of young women aged between 18-24 said they had confidence in the federal government, compared to 47% of the rest of the population.
The WHO has released an interim statement following the EU requiring AstraZeneca to list blood clots as a possible rare side effect.
They have taken a more conservative approach, saying a link between the vaccine and blood clots with low platelets is “considered plausible but is not confirmed”.
Australia’s chief medical officer Prof Paul Kelly says issues with the AstraZeneca vaccine will be weighed up by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) and “we’ll go from there”.
Speaking on ABC radio now, he says authorities are mindful that even though possibly vaccine-related blood floating is is an “extremely rare event”, it could affect confidence in the vaccine.
Just in case you forgot, Australia’s vaccine rollout is going extremely slowly. This includes efforts to vaccinate the entire residential aged care population, which the government originally promised would be completed by the end of March.Just in case you forgot, Australia’s vaccine rollout is going extremely slowly. This includes efforts to vaccinate the entire residential aged care population, which the government originally promised would be completed by the end of March.
Shadow minister for senior Australians and aged care services, Clare O’Neil, is speaking on ABC radio now, with some fairly strong words against the government’s efforts:Shadow minister for senior Australians and aged care services, Clare O’Neil, is speaking on ABC radio now, with some fairly strong words against the government’s efforts:
A government spokesperson has told AAP that Australia is considering the UK’s decision to give people aged under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine due to possible blood clot links.A government spokesperson has told AAP that Australia is considering the UK’s decision to give people aged under 30 an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine due to possible blood clot links.
The federal government has asked its immunisation advisory group and the national medicine regulator to review the findings by the EU medicines regulator which advised that blood clots should be listed as a possible but rare side-effect.The federal government has asked its immunisation advisory group and the national medicine regulator to review the findings by the EU medicines regulator which advised that blood clots should be listed as a possible but rare side-effect.
It’s likely this will be a major topic of conversation at the next national cabinet meeting with state and federal leaders.It’s likely this will be a major topic of conversation at the next national cabinet meeting with state and federal leaders.
Hello everyone, it’s already Thursday and the end is in sight! It’s Matilda Boseley here to take you through the day’s news.Hello everyone, it’s already Thursday and the end is in sight! It’s Matilda Boseley here to take you through the day’s news.
The biggest news today has to be the EU’s medicines regulator declaring overnight that blood clotting should be listed as an (extremely) rare possible side-effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine.The biggest news today has to be the EU’s medicines regulator declaring overnight that blood clotting should be listed as an (extremely) rare possible side-effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
This sounds scary but it’s important to note that EU regulators have also repeatedly stressed that the benefits continue to far outweigh any risks.This sounds scary but it’s important to note that EU regulators have also repeatedly stressed that the benefits continue to far outweigh any risks.
The announcement came after the EMA examined 86 blood clotting cases, 18 of which were fatal, out of some 25 million people in Europe who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the cases were in women aged under 60.The announcement came after the EMA examined 86 blood clotting cases, 18 of which were fatal, out of some 25 million people in Europe who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Most of the cases were in women aged under 60.
A huge proportion of Australia’s vaccination rollout plan is reliant on the AZ jab, although we do have a large contract for promising Novavax doses which could be available later in the year, if approved by the TGA.A huge proportion of Australia’s vaccination rollout plan is reliant on the AZ jab, although we do have a large contract for promising Novavax doses which could be available later in the year, if approved by the TGA.
A number of nations have suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for younger populations and the UK will now offer most people under 30 an alternative jab.A number of nations have suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine for younger populations and the UK will now offer most people under 30 an alternative jab.
Australia has also had a nonfatal blood clotting case in a man aged in his 40s, with health experts saying it would be fully investigated as well as considering any research and advice coming out of the EU. Australia has also had a non-fatal blood clotting case in a man aged in his 40s, with health experts saying it would be fully investigated as well as considering any research and advice coming out of the EU.
Here is what Professor Brendan Murphy said yesterday:Here is what Professor Brendan Murphy said yesterday:
Big things are also happening down in Melbourne today, with Victoria’s much-maligned hotel quarantine program resuming overnight and international flights touching down for the first time in almost two months.Big things are also happening down in Melbourne today, with Victoria’s much-maligned hotel quarantine program resuming overnight and international flights touching down for the first time in almost two months.
Some 106 returned travellers arrived at Melbourne airport from 4.30am this morning, coming from Colombo, Doha, Dubai and Singapore.Some 106 returned travellers arrived at Melbourne airport from 4.30am this morning, coming from Colombo, Doha, Dubai and Singapore.
They have now gone into revamped hotel quarantine facilities, including the Holiday Inn at the airport, which was at the centre of the city last outbreak – it grew to 24 cases, triggering a statewide five-day lockdown.They have now gone into revamped hotel quarantine facilities, including the Holiday Inn at the airport, which was at the centre of the city last outbreak – it grew to 24 cases, triggering a statewide five-day lockdown.
After a number of reviews, the program restarted with ventilation controls in rooms and corridors and PPE requirements for staff.After a number of reviews, the program restarted with ventilation controls in rooms and corridors and PPE requirements for staff.
Covid-19 quarantine Victoria commissioner Emma Cassar said Victorians should be confident in the third iteration of the scheme:Covid-19 quarantine Victoria commissioner Emma Cassar said Victorians should be confident in the third iteration of the scheme:
All hotel quarantine staff have now received at least one Pfizer dose, while the majority have also undergone N95 mask fit testing. All hotel quarantine staff have now received at least one Pfizer dose, while the majority have also undergone N95 mask-fit testing.
As a Melbourne resident, I have my fingers crossed that the third time’s the charm!As a Melbourne resident, I have my fingers crossed that the third time’s the charm!
OK, with that, why don’t we jump into the day’s news. OK, with that, let’s jump into the day’s news.
If there is something you reckon I’ve missed or think should be in the blog but isn’t, shoot me a message on Twitter @MatildaBoseley or email me at matilda.boseley@theguardian.com.If there is something you reckon I’ve missed or think should be in the blog but isn’t, shoot me a message on Twitter @MatildaBoseley or email me at matilda.boseley@theguardian.com.