Q+A: Season 2021, Episode 21

2021 - 21: Vaccines: Supply and Demand

Guest Host: David Speers, live from Melbourne, Victoria (due to COVID lockdown in Brisbane, Queensland)

Up to 12 million Australians are in lockdown as four states now race to contain outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

South East Queensland, Magnetic Island and Townsville have gone into a three day snap lockdown. Perth and the Peel region have entered a four-day lockdown. And the Northern Territory has extended its stay-at-home orders until Friday. In New South Wales, the Sydney outbreak shows no sign of ending quickly - with another 19 cases identified today - and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has unveiled a business rescue package.

Confusion has followed the Prime Minister's announcement that Australian adults aged under 40 will finally be allowed to request the AstraZeneca vaccine, even though Pfizer is the preferred option for that age group.

Meanwhile, when it comes to vaccinations, it seems we have fallen to the very last of all OECD countries, with only 4.75% of Australians vaccinated, as compared 45.76% in the United States.

And with Brisbane on track to be named the official host of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, we'll explore the debate around whether the Tokyo Games should go ahead next month.

Panellists: Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of Queensland; Jason Falinski, NSW Liberal MP; Michelle Ananda-Rajah, Infectious diseases expert; Stephen Duckett, Director of Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute; and Jennifer Hewett, National Affairs Columnist, Australian Financial Review.