'Every Australian might not receive Covid jabs'

Gallery

MORE...

Sports

Laureus Award 2024 : Novak Djokovic, Aitana Bonmati win top honours at Laureus Sports Awards

World no. 1 Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Y

Asian Games medallist Jyothi Yarraji to train in Spain ahead of Paris Olympics

Lione Messi said Retirement not on my mind

Indian Wells: Alcaraz, Swiatek win titles

African footballer chased and thrashed away in Kerala; reports

Hockey India announce core probable group for men's national camp in Bhubaneswar

MORE...

'Every Australian might not receive Covid jabs'

Last Updated : 12 Apr 2021 01:27:31 PM IST

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded that every citizens of the country might not all receive coronavirus vaccines in 2021.

Scott Morrison said on Sunday afternoon that while he hoped the population would be vaccinated this year there were too many uncertainties to make guarantees, reports xinhua news agency.

The government has abandoned Morrison's previous promise that every Australian would be fully vaccinated by October after the early stages of the vaccine rollout was interrupted by international supply issues and concerns over blood clots caused by the AstraZeneca jab.

In a social media post, Morrison said there was no new target to replace the October deadline.

"The government has also not set, nor has any plans to set any new targets for completing first doses," he said.

"While we would like to see these doses completed before the end of the year, it is not possible to set such targets given the many uncertainties involved."

As of Sunday there had been 1.16 million vaccines administered in Australia, about half of which have been delivered by the federal government through general practitioners (GPs) and the aged care system, and the other half through state and territory vaccine hubs.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said earlier on Sunday that GPs have "flocked" to participate in the rollout, dismissing reports that doctors fear they could be liable for any side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine.