The health minister of the Australian state of New South Wales compares being vaccinated with The Hunger Games, a popular book and film series in which young people have to fight each other to the death.
Due to a shortage of vaccines, the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 is slower than in most developed countries.
Minister Brad Hazzard believes that the shortage has led to people looking for a corona jab in a panic. For example, people unexpectedly show up at puncture locations and try to make appointments by phone. According to Hazzard of New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, “the hunt for the vaccines” gives a “Hunger Games feel”. In the country of 25 million inhabitants, about 7 percent is fully vaccinated.
Australia also has relatively few infections, thanks to strict measures. This is due to mainly keeping the borders closed and introducing short lockdowns. Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week announced a roadmap for reopening the border and ending these short lockdowns. This plan depends on the vaccination rate.
The vaccination campaign relies heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is recommended for people over 60. Australia has few doses of other vaccines. Anyone over the age of 40 can now make a prick appointment. Some younger Australians can already be vaccinated. They receive the Pfizer/BioNTech drug but can also receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in consultation.
According to Hazzard, it is easy to criticize the central government in Canberra afterwards. “I think they have done their best,” said the regional health minister. “But until we have enough vaccines and enough primary care physicians on the front lines to administer the vaccines, we will effectively continue to host The Hunger Games here.”