GPs to start receiving and administering COVID-19 vaccines this month

General Practitioners will begin receiving coronavirus vaccines by the end of March.

Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health said in the week beginning March 22, general medical practices will start receiving vials of the vaccine. 

Approximately 4600 GPs will receive the vials for the purpose of inoculating the most vulnerable members of the community, primarily those aged 70 and over. 

The first jab was administered on February 21, with the rollout well and truly underway across Australia.

Professor Murphy said it was a huge logistical operation, but thousands of Australians had already received a dose.

"We've seen well over 70,000 vaccinations, 241 residential aged care facilities and disability care facilities have been vaccinated, with well over 20,000 residents," he said.

"They're protected with their first dose now - that is a fantastic thing."

Professor Murphy also allayed fears over whether Australians receive the Pfizer vaccine or the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"All of the data, particularly coming out of the UK and other places, is showing that these two vaccines are both equally excellent, particularly in all age groups.

"We'll get a lot more of the AstraZeneca vaccine. That's the one I'm going to have, and I'm really looking forward to it," he said.

Italy blocks vaccine shipment to Australia

The Prime Minister provided more context around the decision by Italy and the EU to block a shipment of vaccines bound for Australia.

"In Italy, people are dying at the rate of 300 a day. And so I can certainly understand the high level of anxiety that would exist in Italy and in many countries across Europe, as is regularly conveyed to me," Mr Morrison said.

"They are in an unbridled crisis situation. That is not the situation in Australia."

Mr Morrison said that vaccine nationalism – nations hoarding or reserving vaccines for power – is a "real issue" following the blocked shipment. 

"Vaccination nationalism or protectionism is a matter that has been regularly raised in international forums that I have been involved with," Mr Morrison said. 

"It is a real issue. It is a matter that I think particularly advanced countries have to be quite vigilant about." 

The Prime Minister said Australia is "at the top" of the world in terms of economic recovery and suppressing COVID-19.

"Australia is leading the world out of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Today he said the nation marked another "V Day" as the AstraZeneca vaccine begins its rollout across the country, starting in South Australia.

Mr Morrison, speaking after a National Cabinet meeting, also confirmed current arrangements for the closure of international borders "extends out to the end of June". 

The PM said he wants to see domestic travel and economies "fully realised" first. 

"At this stage, opening up to international arrivals at that scale is not considered safe or wise," Mr Morrison said. 

The Prime Minister indicated the government has put together a pre-travel quarantine pilot program for some Pacific nations. 

In theory, the program works by having seasonal workers perform their mandatory quarantine at home before travelling to Australia to work. 

Countries named include Vanuatu and Fiji. South Australia is the only state to register interest in the program. 

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said since January 1, there has been 600 recorded cases of COVID-19 in Australia. Of those, only 104 have been locally acquired. 

In 2021 Australia has had less than 20 people in hospital, and zero deaths.