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Just three days before the nation begins its rollout of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, the Prime Minister and NSW Premier have flagged when they will each get the jab.
Scott Morrison will receive the Pfizer vaccine “very soon” while Gladys Berejiklian will need to wait weeks for hers.
And while it may seem strange for the state leader to fall back as the PM begins to roll up his sleeve, there’s a simple reason.
Ms Berejiklian’s office confirmed to NCA NewsWire the state leader is simply waiting her turn – which is likely to align with the availability of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in a couple of weeks.
Both leaders were on the ground at the Royal Prince Alfred Vaccination Hub on Friday to make sure all systems are in place.
Ms Berejiklian reiterated her stance on not making the vaccine mandatory but said “incentives” would be in place, particularly around air travel and hospitality to encourage people to get the jab.
“It will be up to private organisations. I presume airlines might say they want people vaccinated on international flights,” she said.
“Hospitality venues may be able to ease restrictions further if people are vaccinated … there’s a whole range of things, I don’t want to speculate.
“(But) if you look at our track record in NSW, we don’t like to force anyone to do anything.”
The Premier would not elaborate on whether mandating vaccines for hotel quarantine workers will be written into their public health order.
“It’s early days,” she said.
“I have overwhelming confidence that the feedback I’ve received from the (workers) that I come into contact (with) is that the vast majority of people working in quarantine systems are enthusiastic it will give them an extra level of protection not just for themselves but for their families.”
More than 1000 NSW residents will be jabbed every day from Monday, starting with hotel quarantine workers, frontline health care employees, aged care and disability care staff.
The first cohort of people will receive the jab at one of the state’s three vaccine hubs at Westmead Hospital, Liverpool Hospital and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Anyone who receives the vaccine during its first three weeks will get the Pfizer jab.
There will be a control system in place for anyone turning up for their turn to be vaccinated.
Firstly they will need to scan a QR code, before being asked several health questions. Patients will need to wear a mask and apply hand sanitiser before they will be allowed in for their turn.
Once they’ve been jabbed they will be told to wait in a dedicated observation area for 30 minutes.
The community is also set to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, after it was approved by the TGA on Tuesday.
NSW recorded its 33rd consecutive day without community transmission of COVID-19 on Friday.
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