Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now trying to lower expectations on his earlier promise to deliver two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to all adult Australians by October. Mr Morrison, who is also the Acting Health Minister for the next few days, says it's likely only one dose per person will be administered by October.
He has this to say, "The Health Minister made it very clear on the 16th of February - I was standing right next to him - where we made it very clear that the change in the advice that the second dose being received after 12 weeks, rather than 4 weeks, meant that the second dose being received by AstraZeneca by the end of October wouldn't be possible. So that isn't new information."
Experts are increasingly doubtful Australia will meet the government's earlier target. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says while he understands delays have been difficult for Australians, the program is also the largest vaccination effort the country has ever seen.
