“I take responsibility”: ScoMo takes the heat on vaccine rollout failure
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken responsibility for the slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
"I take responsibility for the problems that we have had, but I am also taking responsibility for the solutions we're putting in place and the vaccination rates that we are now achieving," he said while in quarantine from the Prime Minister's residence, The Lodge.
The Australian leader says one million Aussies have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the past seven days.
In Mr Morrison’s words, the country is on track to be vaccinated by the end of 2021.
He said the program was about two months behind the planned schedule at the start of the year.
"We've had our challenges with this program, we've had significant challenges with this program, as many countries have," Mr Morrison said.
"What matters is how you fix the things that need to be fixed … today, with the most recent seven day's data, we finally hit that mark of a million doses in arms in a week."
So far, 10.5 million people have received a vaccination, and 14 per cent of Aussies over 16 years of age are fully vaccinated.
The Prime Minister said he has been in contact with the government's vaccine advisory group to discuss whether the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is preferred for people over 60.
"It's a constant appeal, it's a constant appeal, I can assure you," he said.
"They said they made that decision on the balance of risk, well it's now on them to constantly reconsider that risk."
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has stated that young people may be at a rare risk of developing blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine.
It revised that age up to 60 last month.
People under 50 are advised to wait for the Pfizer vaccine.
Images: Getty