National cabinet to hold urgent meetings on vaccine rollout, Pfizer supplies

Changes are expected to be made to the government's vaccination policy and strategy to account for updated health advice on the use of AstraZeneca vaccines and the extra supplies of the Pfizer vaccine.

The switch to twice-weekly meetings, announced last week, was made to address growing problems with vaccine supply and rollout with states and territories falling behind the government's promised targets.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week ditched a promise to have all Australians vaccinated by the end of the year, conceding COVID-19 "writes its own rules" and targets can get "knocked about by every to and fro".

It's expected the leaders will discuss ways to speed up vaccine distribution, including plans of introducing mass vaccination hubs to address the pressures and delays placed on participating GPs and Commonwealth vaccination clinics.

The Victorian government announced on Sunday it would open three mass-vaccination hubs this week, distributing the AstraZeneca vaccine to those under 50 from Wednesday.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said the decision was made in order to speed up the vaccination delivery to the state's residents.

"What we've always done throughout this global pandemic is follow the public health advice, and the public health advice at the moment is to get people vaccinated," Mr Foley said.

"We think [this] is an important opportunity for us to start to rebuild the confidence of Victorians in our distribution and vaccination program."

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Another meeting has been set for the end of the week with Mr Morrison admitting there were a number of issues the leaders had to work through, including discussions on the rollout for those under 50.

"This is just another set of challenges, we have problems to solve, we have national partnership agreements in place for vaccinations with the states and territories that deal with the distribution as we do have arrangements with the GPs and pharmacists and we will work with them to get the job done," Mr Morrison said on Thursday.

"Australians want to see the job get done. I am committing to getting the job done.

"I am committed to working together with the states and territories and doctors and the many other health professionals in this country to get that job done."

The agenda is also expected to deal with the thousands of Australians stranded overseas, who have since been fully vaccinated.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg last week flagged the idea of vaccinated overseas Australians using home quarantine over hotels could be considered.

"Now that the National Cabinet will be meeting more frequently, these are the type of issues that they'll, no doubt discuss, as well as the rollout of the vaccine," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Friday.

Labor's health spokesperson Mark Butler said it was time for the states and territories to step in and take over from the Commonwealth.

"Scott Morrison must outline a clear plan - to replace his current failed one - that has targets, that has timelines and that has milestones that allow Australians, and Australian business, to plan for the future," Mr Butler said on Sunday.

"Scott Morrison has bungled this vaccine rollout. [Monday's] National Cabinet meeting is an opportunity for states to step in and fix his mess."

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