 |
| CREDIT: Sergeant Sebastian Beurich Head of Australia's COVID vaccination program, Lt Gen John Frewen believes the Australian Government may be using cash incentives to encourage vaccines. He believes it is "mathematically possible" to reach 80% of Australian's vaccinated by December. There is a forecast for a rapid build of the vaccination program over the next few months. Operation Covid Shield are planning on instilling drive-thru vaccination clinics, workplace vaccination programs, and retail hubs. Frewen believes the government has supplies plenty, and distribution channels ready to vamp up to 80%. "It really is about people in Australia coming forward and coming forward with some urgency to get vaccinated." "We will have everything in place to be able to get to those sorts of numbers by the end of the year, but public willingness to come forward is key and all of us need to keep encouraging everybody to get that vaccination booked and get out and get vaccinated." "Demand is still exceeding supply right now, so the time for incentives I think may be later in the year when we're getting into some of the more hesitant sort of groups." "We will look at all of the sorts of positive alternatives. There is cash, there is the ideas of lotteries, all these things are being discussed." "But what is resonating with people right now really is being able to get back to the sort of the lifestyle we used to enjoy, international travel, not having to do quarantine, not having to go into lockdowns and those sorts of things." "Getting vaccinated is the right thing to do, it's the right thing for individuals and it is the right thing for our nation." He explained there would be a new advertising campaign launched coinciding with new supply of vaccines, targeting messages to hesitant groups. These new supplies are allegedly going to be distributed to each of the states through new distribution channels, depending on needs and "particular styles." "When it comes to the distribution, I will make recommendations about where major new arrivals of vaccines might go, but ultimately this is a matter for government, and they will ultimately decide." Frewen has suggested the need for incentives, after the clash between Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese over Labor's incentive plan to give individuals $300 for vaccinations. Morrison believes this plan insults Australians as Albanese was suggesting spending $2.4 billion of the $6 billion to backpay those who had already gotten vaccines. "The advice that has come forward from whether it is the chief medical officer or Gen Frewen is that cash payments for jabs, a cash splash for jabs, Mr Speaker, is not their advice." "It is not the advice that is being given to us, that we should be spending $6 billion - splashing cash...to those who have already received the vaccine." "Economic incentives work in a whole range of areas," said Albanese. "We need people to get vaccinated and most Australians, I certainly hope will go and get vaccinated. Because the big incentive is, of course, to not die and to look after your family and to look after your community, it's the right thing to do." "But it will start a conversation with so many people who are like, 'I might do it, I'll do it down the track.' I want conversations to start. And we need to use every tool at our disposal." Tasmanian Liberal Senator, Eric Abetz has said, "The proposed restrictions on freedoms leaves questions from precedent to freedom to privacy and the situation for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons." A new record for vaccinations has been released, with 213,000 jabs administered, which brings the total to 12,808,398. The vaccination rate for those over 16 is now is 41.92% for first dose, and 20.24% for both doses. |
Comments
Post a Comment