Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

The government clearly, unequivocally and absolutely supports the AstraZeneca rollout—clearly, unequivocally and absolutely. The reason is simple: it will help save lives and protect lives. The government has done so on the basis of medical advice. Today, the government has had renewed advice supporting the vaccination program from the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, from the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia and from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. The TGA said today:

The TGA does not have any evidence of a biologically plausible relationship that could suggest a cause and effect relationship between vaccination and blood clots.

The Chief Medical Officer of Australia has said:

The Australian Government remains confident in the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and there is currently no evidence that it causes blood clots.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has said: 'Based on evidence to date, ATAGI do not see any reason to pause use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.' That's in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency and the United Kingdom's MHRA. It's also what we see in relation to our own evidence here in Australia. So our view is crystal clear and unequivocal: we support this program. We support the continued rollout. There have been views expressed; we disagree with them—clearly, absolutely and unequivocally. That is our position. At the same time, by the end of today, we expect to reach 200,000 vaccinations—45,000 people in aged care in over 500 aged-care facilities. These vaccines will save lives and protect lives.

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