Morrison feeling the heat over vaccine rollout as Albanese faces leadership pressure

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing questions about the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine as parliament resumes for the first time this year.

But Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is feeling the pressure from his own caucus, with talks of a leadership spill.

The prime minister began his day with a traditional start-of-parliament mass at St Christopher's Catholic Cathedral in Canberra.

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But once the service was over, he was feeling the heat over the vaccine rollout.

But Mr Morrison was bullish about getting the Pfizer vaccine imported from Europe despite the EU export rules.

"At this point we're on track for being able to receive those vaccines and to start the process at the end of this month," he said.

"But there are often disruptions to this, as I was pretty upfront about yesterday."

Nine Political Editor Chris Uhlmann said the rollout was the prime minister's main task of the year.

"If the government mucks up the rollout of the vaccines that would really threaten them at the next election," he told Today.

"But you have to understand that you have to have regulatory approval in Australia before we can roll out any drug.

"It doesn't matter what's happening overseas. It has to get the tick here."

The Pfizer vaccine has been approved in Australia, but supplies of those shots are limited to the few million doses bought by the government.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Far more doses will be made of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The rollout may determine whether the Prime Minister calls an early election.

"[If] The government does badly, it's not going to go to the polls this year," Uhlmann said.

"It can go any time after August."

Meanwhile, Labor's caucus are reportedly becoming increasingly restless about the leadership of Mr Albanese.

"The sharks may be circling. Some of them are gummy sharks," Uhlmann said.

"There are lots of names being kicked around, Jim Chalmers from Queensland is being kicked around, Richard Marles, Chris Bowen, Tanya Plibersek."

READ MORE: Anthony Albanese dismisses speculation his leadership is under threat

Because an election could be called in winter, members of the Labor caucus believe if a spill is to take place, it has to happen before Easter.

Former opposition leader Bill Shorten has denied any interest in retaking his old job.

"Anthony is our leader," Mr Shorten told Today.

"Labor can win the election."