UNOFFICIAL The Hon. Scott Morrison MP Prime Minister  MEDIA STATEMENT Friday 6 August 2021 NATIONAL CABINET STATEMENT The National Cabinet met today for the 50th time to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy. National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 35,688 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 932 people have died. More than 26.1 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,289,345 million tests reported in the past 7 days. Globally there have been over 200.8 million cases and sadly over 4.2 million deaths, with 580,293 new cases and 9,681 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world. Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues ...

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Our Immune system and the workings explained-by Dr Harold Gunatillake   Effectiveness of the COVID vaccines -a challenge to our immune system   Transcript: “In early May, two people quarantined in adjacent hotel rooms in the Australian city of Adelaide opened their doors within seconds of each other to collect meals. Health authorities believe that could have been enough for the virus to spread from a man in one of the hotel rooms to a man in the other via airborne transmission-. To combat such virulent contagious mutant variants, we need a strong immune system. Few weeks ago, the chief executive of Pfizer said anyone who receives its COVID-19 vaccine will probably need to have a third dose within 6-12 months after being fully immunised, and then likely one dose every year going forward. We will need these because it is likely that, for many of us, immunity will begin ...

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‘lambda’ coronavirus variant -classified as variant of interest-by Dr Harold Gunatillake May be harder to control with the present vaccines. “We’re going to see variants come up constantly. It’s not surprising and we’ll probably run out of letters of the Greek alphabet.” The best way to tackle the variants is to focus on getting more people vaccinated not just in one country but globally. AstraZenica or Pfizer- which one is preferred? Transcript: Whilst Delta plus variant started in India is spreading worldwide, a new strain labelled ‘lambda’ was first detected in Peru in August 2020 is a new variant of concern. This variant, also known as C.37, and WHO has labelled as a “variant of interest”. There are now 11 official SARS-CoV-2 variants listed by the WHO. All SARS-CoV-2 variants are distinguished from one another by mutations in their spike proteins — the components of the virus that allow it ...

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A third booster jab of the COVID vaccine is predicted-by Dr Harold Gunatillake   A vaccine booster program is being explored in the UK. “It’s quite likely that, like the flu, we might be getting a different vaccine next year.” “Vaccines protect you and those around you from Covid-19 and make you less likely to pass it on to others. The latest research shows that Covid-19 vaccines are helping us beat covid. They reduce hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 and help stop people passing on the virus. Over time, and as the vaccine programme extends, they will help us get back to normal”. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam (‘JVT’) Deputy Chief Medical Officer-UK UK has been fast on vaccinating the people. The national effort to immunize the population has been a success and now considering a third booster jab. Nearly 85 per cent of UK residents over the age of 18 have ...

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COVID-19 vaccine rollout advice in English, Sinhala (සිංහල)  and Tamil (தமிழ்) Source:Department of Health – Australia COVID-19 vaccination – COVID-19 එන්නත් ලබා ගැනීමේ යාවත්කාලීන කළ උපදෙස් (Updated COVID-19 vaccine rollout advice) COVID-19 vaccination – ‘கோவிட்-19’ தடுப்பூசி மருந்து விநியோகத்தைப் பற்றிய புதுப்பிக்கப்பட்ட அறிவுரைகள் (Updated COVID-19 vaccine rollout advice) Updated COVID-19 vaccine rollout advice (English resource) ...

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MEDIA RELEASE RELIGIOUS AND MULTICULTURAL LEADERS RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINE   More than 30 NSW religious and community leaders have come together to encourage all eligible individuals from diverse faith and cultural communities to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The leaders met with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee at the mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park. “Thank you to community leaders across NSW who have shown leadership throughout the pandemic and continue to provide trusted information to their communities. It is critical to vaccinate our citizens as quickly and as safely as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said. “There are Cultural Support Workers at the mass vaccination centre who can guide people through the entire process in 25 different languages.”                                                                                                      The mass vaccination centre is now administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to members of the general public aged 50 and over, along with GPs and ...

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Inoculation of Sinopharm vaccine gets underway Source:Dailymirror Inoculation of the China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine got underway for the first time in Sri Lanka today. People in Jinthupitiya, Colombo are seen queuing to get the vaccine at the Jinthupitiya, District 02 MOH office. The vaccine had been given to 150 individuals in the area. Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe ...

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Is the COVID-19 vaccine contraindicated with a history of blood clots in the varicose veins, in the past?- Dr Harold Gunatillake A patient query Dear Doctor Harold I am due for the Astra Zeneca next week. I am 78 years old & in view of the recent reports re clotting somewhat concerned, though assured by my GP & others hopefully all will be well. I was taking aspirin for over 25 years since I had a superficial clot on my calf. However, in the last 3 or years I have not been taking it on the opinion of three medical professionals including my GP that unless you have had a heart condition there is no need to take it. Since I am to have the Astra COVID vaccine I spoke to my GP & he said if I wish I can take it for a few days. I am wondering ...

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CSL confident it can make vaccine to cover variants, if needed by Liam Mannix     Source:-theage CSL is confident it can make an updated version of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to cover any virus variants that might arise – putting the ball in the medical regulator’s court for a quick approval. It comes as the Australian pharma giant prepares to begin the process of bottling the first doses of the life-saving vaccine in the coming days. A small South African study sent shockwaves around the world this week after it found AstraZeneca’s vaccine was only about 10 per cent efficacious against the South African variant; that nation’s government soon paused the roll-out of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has said it is working on a booster jab, which will be released within the year. Scientists remain hopeful the original vaccine will still provide protection against serious illness and death.Dr Andrew Nash, CSL’s chief scientific officer, ...

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Know your COVID-19 vaccine before you roll up your sleeves?-By Dr Harold Gunatillake Australia will start giving the vaccine by mid-late February starting with the vulnerable people. Are you prepared to have the vaccine when it comes to your turn. This talk may help you to decide whether to have the jab or not. Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe when it has not undergone adequate testing? The US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines, in many countries, and so far, it is supposed to be safe, from large clinical trials, except for minor side effects and reactions lasting for a few days in a very few. In order, for the authorization to be granted, the vaccine manufacturers need to follow-up for at least two months after the trial emergency vaccination, and the vaccine must be proved safe and effective in  the respective ...

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