Fears AstraZeneca reputation has been ‘tarnished’ beyond repair

 

Brendan Crabb, director and chief executive of the Burnet Institute.Credit:Jesse Marlow

Vaccination experts say they fear the reputation of the AstraZeneca vaccine could have been tarnished beyond repair in Australia, leaving the population dangerously exposed to coronavirus outbreaks in the months to come.

Following the latest decision by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to limit the AstraZeneca vaccine to those over 60, doctors say patients have been cancelling their vaccine appointments in droves and abusing receptionists as they demand the Pfizer jab instead.

While top vaccine experts say AstraZeneca may not be as widely used in Australia in future when supplies of alternatives increase, they believe negative public sentiment around the safety of the vaccine is out of proportion with the risks posed by a serious but rare side effect.

Burnet Institute director Brendan Crabb said the AstraZeneca vaccine had proven to be more effective in the real world than predicted in clinical trials. The 54-year-old said he would not hesitate to have his second dose.

“COVID is truly terrible and there’s every chance AstraZeneca induced immunity would stand between me and serious illness,” Professor Crabb said.

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 Covid is NOT a Joke or Hoax - Millions have Died - Will You Be Next?

Anti-vaccine activists aim to 'convert' Victorians queuing up to receive COVID-19 jab

 

Anti-vaccine activists have targeted inoculation hubs in Melbourne.
ABC News: Daniel Fermer

CoronaCheck is RMIT ABC Fact Check's weekly email newsletter, dedicated to fighting the misinformation infodemic surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.

You can read the latest edition below, and subscribe to have the next newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

CoronaCheck #70

In this week's CoronaCheck, we bring you disturbing footage of anti-vaxxers trying to dissuade people queuing at a Melbourne COVID-19 vaccination centre from getting the jab.

We also debunk claims the dramatic mid-game collapse of an international soccer star was brought on by a coronavirus vaccine, and take the measure of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's carbon footprint.

Quest to 'convert' vaccine recipients

Anti-vaccine activists have hounded people queuing outside a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Melbourne in an attempt to convince them not to go ahead with immunisation.

Video appeared to show at least one woman having been swayed by the group's efforts.

Footage shared to the encrypted messaging service Telegram on May 29, and seen by Fact Check, shows a small group approaching people queuing for vaccination outside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

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 Anti-Vaxers have Rocks Between their Ears

Sydney cluster grows by two cases with new infections linked to Westfield

 

Westfield in Bondi Junction. (Wolter Peeters)

Sydney's new coronavirus cluster has grown by a two cases, as new alerts were issued for Sydney trains, an Ikea and a cafe as far south as Wollongong.

 

It brings the cluster to six, with much of the focus of calls to get tested continuing to focus on thousands of people who went to Westfield Bondi Junction last weekend.

 

There were officially two new cases recorded, but one, a woman in her 70s who crossed paths with the 'patient zero' driver in Belle cafe in nearby Vaucluse was announced yesterday, and another will be in tomorrow's figures.

 

A woman in her 40s who lives near Westfield Bondi Junction and often walks though is one of the new cases. It's not know when she might have caught the virus but officials say it could have been last weekend.

Sydney's latest exposure sites

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Concerns AstraZeneca advice could spark more vaccine rollout delays

Australia’s vaccine rollout was hit with another blow after advice on the AstraZeneca jab changed, raising concerns over exactly what the impact will be.

A health worker prepares to hold a vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine. Picture: Yad Kramdi/AFPSource:AFP

As Australia’s embattled vaccine rollout reels from another blow following the change in advice for the AstraZeneca jab, questions are being raised about the impacts this could have going forward.

So far more than 6.3 million vaccine doses have been administered across the country, but health experts have continually stressed the rollout was progressing quickly enough.

Now, with the recommendation that the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to those aged 60 and above after another person died from a blood clot in her brain, there are fears the rollout could be stalled even further.

People aged 50-59 are now being told to get the Pfizer vaccine instead, of which Australia has significantly less doses.

In its initial plan, the Federal Government was aiming to have the majority of the adult population vaccinated by October 2021.

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Should COVID vaccines be compulsory for care home staff? Experts debate

 

The UK government has announced that COVID-19 vaccination will become mandatory for staff working in care homes for older people in England. Staff will be given 16 weeks to get the vaccine. If they don't get the jab, they will be redeployed from frontline care or lose their job.

Mandating vaccination would increase vaccine uptake in care home workers, but it would be a significant intrusion into individual freedom. Is it ethically justifiable?

Yes—Professor Dominic Wilkinson

In the early phase of the pandemic, some of the most medically vulnerable people ended up catching coronavirus from those caring for them; 40,000 patients in England are said to have caught COVID while in hospital. Some patients and care home residents died from infections that they caught from their caregivers. We must do everything possible to avoid repeating this tragic and distressing situation.

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 Care About Others ?  -  Vaccinate Today.

Epidemiologist warns of 'problematic' growth linked to Sydney's COVID-19 Delta strain

 

  

 

 Sydney is on alert again after two locally acquired cases.AAP: Jason O'Brien

 

Sydney is "in trouble" and restrictions need to be brought in "quickly" after it was revealed a limousine driver was found to have the Delta strain of COVID-19, a leading epidemiologist says.

The coronavirus outbreak in Sydney's eastern suburbs grew to four cases today after a man in his 50s tested positive for the virus.

NSW Premier Gladys Ms Berejiklian said the new infection appeared to have contracted the virus while at Myer inside Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction, on June 12.

A limousine driver aged in his 60s was found to be carrying the Delta strain and police are investigating whether he breached quarantine protocols.

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 You have the power to help your family and friends get vaccinated.

ACT lists two exposure sites after positive COVID-19 case travelled from NSW to Canberra

 

ACT Health has listed two coronavirus exposure locations.

ACT Health has confirmed a positive COVID-19 case from New South Wales visited the territory on Monday 14 June. 

The man in his 40s is from Sydney's north-western suburbs. His test results showed "low virus levels, which NSW Health has not been able to rule out as a possible case of COVID-19".

ACT Health has listed two sites as exposure locations in the ACT. 

They are urging those who were at the venues at the specified times to immediately isolate until further advised by ACT Health, get a COVID-19 test and fill in the declaration form available at the ACT Health website.

Health authorities are also asking all those who visited the National Gallery of Australia, including the main gift shop, from 12-2pm on Monday,  June 14, to be vigilant for any COVID-19 symptoms, and immediately get tested and isolate if symptoms develop.

ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said this morning that authorities do not think the case is highly infectious. 

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Don't Be a Fool  --  Get Vaccinated