Invest
Australia’s vaccine crawl: 2023 is the likely rollout completion date
While Greg Hunt won’t admit it, Australia’s vaccine rollout is lagging dangerously behind much of the rest of the world. And while our government is quick to rank us first in regards to our wins on the health and economic fronts, it sure isn’t too happy when asked about our global vaccine standing.
Australia’s vaccine crawl: 2023 is the likely rollout completion date
While Greg Hunt won’t admit it, Australia’s vaccine rollout is lagging dangerously behind much of the rest of the world. And while our government is quick to rank us first in regards to our wins on the health and economic fronts, it sure isn’t too happy when asked about our global vaccine standing.
As Victoria grapples with its fourth lockdown, it has become clear that Mr Hunt may no longer be on the ball. In fact, several of his assurances are in tatters in recent days, including the very dangerous and quite simply false assertion that 100 per cent of aged care residents have been vaccinated.
While aged care residents and workers were identified as the priority group when the vaccine finally reached Aussie shores, the outbreak in Victoria has revealed that some aged care homes had not even received their first dose of the vaccine. And while that has now reportedly been reversed, with the government directing extra doses to these facilities last week, could it be a case of ‘too little, too late’?
As of end-May, it is estimated only 2 per cent of Australian adults have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
And recent research isn’t promising an acceleration, with data from Provocate revealing that while the Victorian lockdown has seen a lift in vaccination rates in the past week, the rates were still half the 200,000 daily vaccinations needed to meet the federal budget’s revised target of completing the rollout by the end of 2021.
In fact, according to the figures, Australia dropped five places in the past month from 5th to 10th of the 14 nations benchmarked by the Australian Department of Health.
“Australia’s lagging rate of vaccination at home is having a significant impact on its global standing, as well as the risk of market share losses to competitor countries that reopen faster,” said Provocate managing director Troy Bilsborough.
“For example, Australia has one of the slowest start dates and lowest vaccination rates of all G20 nations.”
Provocate’s outlook is worrying, with Mr Bilsborough noting that until Australia is consistently averaging at least 1 million jabs in arms per week, every week, then Aussies should plan for a vaccine rollout completion closer to 2023 than 2021.
“The current ‘grass is greener’ message around an end of year vaccination boost is the single biggest risk to Australia’s vaccine rollout right now and will only increase as federal election pressure mounts,” Mr Bilsborough said.
“Unless Australia can strike a deal with a close ally like the US or UK to loan it urgent vaccine surplus between now and October, the only way for Australia to get back on track is collectively convince itself to accept and administer its current vaccine stocks and actively reduce promises of safer batches to come,” he added.
But it’s not just the businesses advisory firms that are concerned, with journalists now taking aim at the Health Minister and presenting him with some pretty hard truths.
In fact, just last week, Natalie Barr, the host of the Sunrise Show, asked Mr Hunt whether Aussies are hesitating to get the jab because for months they heard the words “no rush” from both himself and the PM. Mr Hunt then repeatedly interrupted Ms Barr with “that’s false”.
She, however, was not deterred, persisting with the words “your government and the Prime Minister were saying there is no rush”.
It was the producer who saved the segment by playing a clip of the PM repeating “it’s no race”.
Well, luckily it’s not a race, because if it was, we’d be doing dreadfully.
RELATED ARTICLES
-
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
-
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
-
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
About the author
About the author
Economy
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
Household outlays are running hotter than economists expected, with the latest ABS readings showing broad-based gains across services and goods. That resilience is exactly the kind of demand impulse ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
Headline inflation easing is good optics; balance sheets feel something different. With year‑on‑year CPI down to 3.4% in November from 3.8%, hopes for rate relief are rising — but policymakers remain ...Read more
Economy
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
Australia’s headline CPI edged down to 3.4% year-on-year in November, from 3.8%, easing immediate pressure but not eliminating the risk of further tightening. With services inflation sticky and ...Read more
Economy
Higher-for-longer, not higher forever: How Australia’s inflation ‘surprise’ is rewriting CFO playbooks for 2026
Australia’s latest inflation pulse eased but didn’t budge bank outlooks: near‑term rate cuts are still a long shot, with some houses flagging upside risk. That steadier‑for‑longer cash rate is pushing ...Read more
Economy
Australia's inflation illusion: the real challenge lies in pricing power and productivity
Headline inflation has cooled to 3.4% year-on-year, but the Reserve Bank’s caution—and a still‑hot housing backdrop—mean the rate threat hasn’t left the room. For boards, the next few quarters are ...Read more
Economy
When house prices lift, tills ring: A case study in turning Australia’s wealth effect into growth
Australia’s latest upswing in household wealth, anchored by higher dwelling values, is more than a feel‑good statistic—it is a profit and planning signal. The ABS notes property’s centrality to ...Read more
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s spending surprise raises the odds of a February rate move — here’s how to protect margin and momentum
Household outlays are running hotter than economists expected, with the latest ABS readings showing broad-based gains across services and goods. That resilience is exactly the kind of demand impulse ...Read more
Economy
Australia’s inflation cools to 3.4% — why the RBA’s next move still isn’t a lay‑up for business
Headline inflation easing is good optics; balance sheets feel something different. With year‑on‑year CPI down to 3.4% in November from 3.8%, hopes for rate relief are rising — but policymakers remain ...Read more
Economy
Inflation cools to 3.4% — but the RBA’s reaction function keeps businesses on a knife-edge
Australia’s headline CPI edged down to 3.4% year-on-year in November, from 3.8%, easing immediate pressure but not eliminating the risk of further tightening. With services inflation sticky and ...Read more
Economy
Higher-for-longer, not higher forever: How Australia’s inflation ‘surprise’ is rewriting CFO playbooks for 2026
Australia’s latest inflation pulse eased but didn’t budge bank outlooks: near‑term rate cuts are still a long shot, with some houses flagging upside risk. That steadier‑for‑longer cash rate is pushing ...Read more
Economy
Australia's inflation illusion: the real challenge lies in pricing power and productivity
Headline inflation has cooled to 3.4% year-on-year, but the Reserve Bank’s caution—and a still‑hot housing backdrop—mean the rate threat hasn’t left the room. For boards, the next few quarters are ...Read more
Economy
When house prices lift, tills ring: A case study in turning Australia’s wealth effect into growth
Australia’s latest upswing in household wealth, anchored by higher dwelling values, is more than a feel‑good statistic—it is a profit and planning signal. The ABS notes property’s centrality to ...Read more
Economy
RBA's hawkish stance reflects inflation concerns, State Street economist comments
In a recent statement, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has signaled a hawkish stance on interest rates, drawing insights from financial experts about the implications for Australia's economic ...Read more
Economy
Navigating the inflation maze: How CFOs can outsmart economic hurdles in Australia
Fresh inflation data have cooled expectations of near-term rate cuts in Australia, intensifying pressure on margins, capital allocation and demand. Rather than wait for monetary relief that may not ...Read more
