Aussie chief medical officer "concerned" over efficacy debate on COVID-19 vaccines

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, January 13, 2021
Adjust font size:

CANBERRA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said on Wednesday that he was "concerned" that debate around the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines could undermine public confidence.

The Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology recently called for the Australian government to pause its planned rollout of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccines, saying it may not be effective enough to generate herd immunity to the virus.

Some experts cited trials of the vaccine that found it was 62 percent effective at preventing COVID-19, compared to about 95 percent for vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

Paul Kelly dismissed any doubts over the efficacy of the vaccine, of which Australia has purchased more than 50 million doses, but admitted he was "concerned" that the debate would lead to increased vaccine scepticism.

"I am concerned," he told Today, an Australian breakfast television program.

"Once controversy is opened up and people make comments based on interim results from a Phase 3 trial - it was published, by the way, a month ago, so I'm not exactly sure why it's coming up today."

"But once that sort of conversation starts, of course people will be wondering about whether it's the right decision. We'll be guided by the actual medical advice."

Also on Wednesday, Kelly reassured Australians that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) would carefully consider all data before approving any of the vaccines acquired by the government.

Vaccinations in Australia are set to begin in mid-February with the rollout to be accompanied by a public information campaign on the safety of vaccines. Enditem

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter