Scott Morrison blames ATAGI for Australia’s ‘glacial’ deployment

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has insisted that the advisory body ATAGI must take responsibility for the slow rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in Australia. Speaking on 2 GB with Ray Hadley, Mr. Immunization Program, it really is. “

“It slowed him down considerably in the end,” Mr. Morrison said.

“It got us behind and we wish it wasn’t the result, but it was.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison holds a press conference in Canberra. (Getty / Sam Mooy)

Mr Morrison’s government has come under scrutiny over the nation’s rollout of the vaccine, which is one of the slowest in the developed world.

ATAGI’s advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine has changed several times in recent weeks, raising and lowering the minimum age.

“These decisions are made at arm’s length from government, and should be,” Mr. Morrison said.

“If we want a system where drug control in Australia is not run by politicians but by professional doctors, it sometimes means they will be very careful in circumstances like this.”

Mr Morrison also called the UK’s decision to lift all major restrictions on coronaviruses “quite an experiment”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK will rely on the vaccine without imposing health orders from July 19.

The UK has nearly 65% ​​of adults fully vaccinated with two injections, compared to 11% in Australia.

“I still note that over 200 people died in the UK last week,” Mr Morrison said.

He said cases in the UK rose to more than 30,000 every day.

“I know there have been a lot of referrals in the UK,” Mr Morrison said.

“They had more cases in one day than we had in 18 months.”

Mr Morrison also called Liberal MP Craig Kelly’s anti-vaccination claims “garbage” and dangerous for Australia.

“This ‘whole COVID thing is a conspiracy and it will turn my arm into a magnet’ and all that stuff, it’s just crazy nonsense,” he said.

“And it puts people’s lives in danger.”

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