NSW Health Minister compares race to get COVID-19 vaccines to ‘Hunger Games’

Australia’s coronavirus vaccine rollout has been compared to the ‘hunger games’ with states desperate for increased supplies to further bolster jab rates.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard used the popular dystopian book and film series on Monday to describe the vaccination program.

“It’s almost a feeling now of ‘The Hunger Games’, of people chasing the vaccine,” he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

“Until we get enough vaccines and enough GPs on the front line who can provide this vaccine in the guns, we will effectively continue to have the Hunger Games happening here in NSW.”

With AstraZeneca only recommended for people over 60, Pfizer’s limited inventory prevents immediate expansion of deployment.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt believes that a record week of doses administered is a strong indication that the rollout may gain momentum.

“When it comes to vaccines, this is the most competitive global environment imaginable,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

The federal government plans to deliver 682,000 doses of Pfizer to NSW in July, up from 400,000 in June.

Queensland is expected to increase from nearly 200,000 to 430,000 doses in July.

Federal Minister of Health Greg Hunt.

PAA

In the sunny state, nearly 140,000 people have signed up to receive a Pfizer jab, but Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned that it could be October or November before the injections are given.

“This is when all of the procurement comes from the federal government,” she said.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said Mr Hazzard’s description was appropriate because he was critical of the federal government.

“They are responsible for the provision of vaccines, they are responsible for the deployment in the care of the elderly, responsible for the secure COVID-19 enforcement,” he told reporters in Toowoomba.

“Everything they were responsible for was botched.”

Australia is expected to receive a total of 40 million doses of Pfizer as well as 10 million of the Moderna vaccine which has yet to be approved this year.

While only 9.1% of people over 16 are fully vaccinated, Mr Hunt pointed to an “incredible result” of 880,000 doses over the past week.

“It shows that the distribution system is working. It’s a global challenge. Australia is part of it,” he said.

Victoria’s COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar described the tight vaccine supply as extremely frustrating and why the state had not extended its deployment to those under 40.

But he stopped before Mr. Hazzard’s reference to a death contest.

“We don’t use bows and arrows yet, so I won’t go there immediately,” he told reporters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has identified an 80% vaccination rate to reopen international borders, while business leaders want firm targets for the reopening.

Scientific modeling is underway to determine vaccine thresholds as part of a four-step plan to end lockdowns and border restrictions.

The drug regulator is also considering a request from Pfizer to have its vaccine used in 12 to 15 year olds, amid concerns over the highly contagious Delta variant.

Mr Hunt said Monday he did not want to anticipate a Therapeutic Goods Administration ruling.