Australia is in the fortunate position in February 2022 to have a population with a very high COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The vaccination program for children (ages 5 and older), and the booster program, are now well underway through the hard work of specialist General Practice teams, and other vaccination providers. There is now ample supply of both Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccines. Recently, news of a large supply of Nuvaxovid (Novavax) – reportedly 51 million doses – will become available to Australians. It is clear now that these vaccines are vastly in excess of our domestic Australian need.
Sydney South West GP Link, representing General Practitioners in the region, strongly urges Minister Hunt and the Australian Government to immediately partner with our international allies to redirect excess vaccines to low- and middle-income countries that are undervaccinated. For instance, where around 85% of the entire Australian population has received at least one vaccine (including children under 5 years who are currently not eligible), of our Pacific friends and neighbours, 35% of people in Vanuatu, 28% of people in the Solomon Islands, and less than 4% of people in Papua New Guinea have received a vaccine. COVID-19 is a global pandemic and supporting other nations with vaccine access challenges is not only in our long-term strategic interests, but fundamentally the right thing to do.
Sydney South West GP Link Ltd. 