Australia's plan to vaccinate the entire population by October has been boosted with another 10 million doses of the Pfizer immunisation, taking the national total to 150 million doses of various COVID-19 jabs.
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the rollout is "the next critical step in protecting Australians."
Here's what we know about the plan from Thursday's press conference.
Will all Australian residents be offered a jab?
Yes.
Everybody who is on Australian soil will get the vaccine.
That includes free vaccines for all visa holders, refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and anyone on a bridging visa.
And those who have had their visas cancelled but are still in the country will get one as well.
Will Australia help vaccinate our neighbours?
Yes, but the exact details are still being worked out.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the 150 million doses will "not only vaccinate Australia but to ensure that we're doing our bit in this part of the world."
The Pacific region would be a priority, with Mr Morrison attending yesterday's Pacific Island Leaders' Forum to update them on vaccine progress.
How have we doubled our Pfizer stocks?
The who-buys-what decisions are made by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group or SCITAG and that's led by Secretary of the Health Department, Professor Brendan Murphy.
Mr Hunt says they're the ones who advised that Australia should buy more of the Pfizer vaccine, once the TGA ticked it off.
That's because it's an mRNA vaccine. They work differently to traditional vaccines; they contain a blueprint for the antigen in the form of genetic material — that's the mRNA.
Professor Murphy said mRNA vaccines have "surprised the world and how successful they have been, they will have an ongoing role with COVID-19."
Mr Morrison said the additional purchase option was built into the contract.
And that's how we have another 10 million doses.
Can you choose your vaccine?
No, you can't.
Professor Murphy says the majority of us will get the AstraZeneca vaccines, but the Pfizer version will be prioritised for those at a higher risk, including frontline workers and those living in aged care facilities.
And for the record, Mr Morrison is getting Pfizer, while Professor Murphy is likely getting AstraZeneca.
When is each brand expected to roll out?
Pfizer will go first, and the PM said they're on track to launch in the last week of February.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is still waiting on TGA approvals but those are doses still planned for the first week of March.
Both of these are subject to shipping from overseas.
Local supplies of AstraZeneca, made by Australian company CSL, will become available later in March.
The Pfizer jab comes in what's essentially dry ice "eskies", and will be distributed by special Pfizer hubs across the country.
That will be offered to border workers, quarantine workers and those front-line healthcare workers like ICU and emergency department staff.
People in residential and aged care, as well as those who work there, will also be prioritised.
Here's the breakdown of which brands we're getting to make up that 150 million dose figure:
- 53.8 million Oxford AstraZeneca
- 20 million Pfizer
- 51 million Novavax
- 25.5 million under the COVAX agreement
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