1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Joining us on the line right now the Australian Medical 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Association's Northern Territory branch, Dr Robert Parker. Good morning to you, Robert. 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: We're just having a bit of a technical issue there. 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, Dr Parker. 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 2: Can you hear me? 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 3: Morning morning, Katie. I can hear you. Can you hear me? 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 2: I can hear you? 8 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: Now, I think it was a technical issue from me, 9 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: Dr Parker. Now, there's a lot of discussion at the 10 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,319 Speaker 1: moment around Australia, and there has been for quite some 11 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: time about the vaccine rollout. I know there was information 12 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: flow through late last week from the Dougherty Institute suggesting 13 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: that once we get to eighty percent vaccination rate around 14 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: Australia that we should be able to open up a 15 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 1: little bit more freely. 16 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: Dr Parker. What was your reaction when you'd sort of 17 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 2: seen that news. 18 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 3: Well, great, I mean obviously the high the vaccination rate, 19 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 3: better the outcome for all Australians. So now very supportive 20 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 3: of that idea. 21 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does sound as though it would be a 22 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: good thing, and we know that the impact on business 23 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: and tourism as we have these lockdowns is massive, but 24 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: it is something that's still really required at this point, 25 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 1: isn't it in terms of making sure we keep Australian safe. 26 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 3: We'll go to you again the stats. Unfortunately, this current 27 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 3: epidemic in the Southern States, you know, New South Wales 28 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,480 Speaker 3: has been pretty much in lockdown and all the economic 29 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 3: issues about now Queensland and you know, a couple of 30 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 3: weeks ago we had half of Australia in lockdown. You know, 31 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 3: it just shows you how tenacious this delda there it 32 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 3: is and the massive disruption it can occur. You know, 33 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: it's so incredibly sad that quantitants have to stand down 34 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 3: two and a half thousand people. But I suppose it 35 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 3: hasn't been the work with people canceling flights and whatever. 36 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 3: So it has a major economic flow through and Australia 37 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 3: has taken the stance that health is, you know, health 38 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 3: is a priority, rather than you know, keeping the economy 39 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,080 Speaker 3: open and allowing the virus to go in Sweden, so 40 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 3: you know, and I think it's been a very sensible 41 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 3: process because again you know a number of people have 42 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 3: died in Sydney. It's having a major impact on hospital 43 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: beds with a whole bunch of people having to be 44 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 3: even at the hospital. So it's you know, control of 45 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 3: virus and obviously the way to control it is through 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 3: vaccination and having the largest proportion of the population vaccinated. 47 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: Well, we did just hear from the Health Minister Natasha 48 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: Files a little earlier. She said ninety thousand Territorians now 49 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,639 Speaker 1: have had their first dose of the vaccine and that 50 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: that forty five percent to fully sorry, I think it 51 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: was about forty five percent are vaccinated. 52 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:32,359 Speaker 2: I mean it's something. 53 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: That we seem to be quite good at here in 54 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: the territory at the moment in terms of going out 55 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: and actually getting the jab. 56 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 3: Well, good on the Health Department for its vaccine role 57 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 3: out strategy, and good on Territorians for being so enthusiastic 58 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 3: they have the vaccine. No, it's a feather in the 59 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 3: capital of the Northern Territory that we're ahead the head 60 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 3: of the rest of the country in terms of a 61 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 3: portion of people vaccinated. 62 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 2: And doctor Parker, how are you feeling at this point 63 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 2: in time? 64 00:02:56,800 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: I guess from that medical perspective, as I said, I know, 65 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: a lot of us or a lot of people are 66 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: concerned about the impact of COVID on business and on 67 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 1: the tourism industry. 68 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: Et cetera here in the territory. 69 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 1: But how are you feeling at the moment when it 70 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: comes to the way in which we're managing the lockdowns 71 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: in other states and the hot spots here in the territory. 72 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 3: Well, now, good on the territory again, I think that, 73 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:22,800 Speaker 3: you know, the when I go to work every morning, 74 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 3: I've I've got to be checked for COVID issues before 75 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 3: I enter the hospital. I gather that doesn't occur in 76 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 3: other parts of Australia. So the territory, you know, is 77 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 3: I think been very proactive in terms of its responsibilities 78 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 3: towards the territory population, trying to keep them save. 79 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: Now, what is the what's the AMA's perspective at the 80 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: moment nationally when it comes to the vaccine. I know 81 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: that there had been some talk that we may indeed 82 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: need booster shots, but from what I can gather, there 83 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: hasn't sort of been any specific medical advice at the moment. 84 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: Do you do you have you know, do you sort 85 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: of have much further info in that space? 86 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 3: I don't at the moment, Katie. I mean, it looks 87 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 3: like for the Della Bearian and the evidence coming out, 88 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 3: we probably will need to boost a shot that if 89 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 3: that's the case, we just need to do it. I mean, 90 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 3: this virus is obviously evolving. The evidence is evolving. I 91 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 3: mean there's new data out of Israel, there's data out 92 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: of Massachusetts in terms of me of the COVID virus 93 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 3: and its effect and partition, you know, on people with 94 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 3: already vaccinated. Yeah, so it appears like we're living. You know, 95 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 3: viruses and bacteria been on the planet a lot longer 96 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 3: than we have, and they evolved very quickly, quite often, 97 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 3: so we have to be in the race with them. 98 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: Look, I don't have a big problem if I've got 99 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: to get a booster. I know that some people are 100 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:45,279 Speaker 1: still feeling concerned and still have that hesitancy even when 101 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: it comes to getting the vaccine in the first place, 102 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: from the advice that you're sort of well from the 103 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: I guess the feedback that you've been receiving from members 104 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: of the AMA. 105 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 2: Has there been. 106 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: Many people come forward in the territory with side of 107 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: fix after getting the vaccine. 108 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 3: I think there was one or one potential that I'm 109 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 3: aware of, and I hope again, I think it was 110 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 3: a non fatal outcome, which is really good. Yeah, but 111 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 3: it's again, this is an incredibly rare side effect, as 112 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 3: it was pointed out by someone, the effect of you know, 113 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 3: people on aspirin, by being one of them, have a 114 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 3: much greater risk of dying than people with with with 115 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 3: the AZ vaccine. It's just an incredibly small risk. I 116 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: suppose there's lots of publicity about a publicity in gender sphere, 117 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 3: and people have a right to be concerned and also informed, 118 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: which again comes back to the discussion with your GP 119 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 3: about and benefits of a vaccine. So you know that 120 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 3: it is a very very small risk of the as vaccine. 121 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: It is a real risk, obviously, but at the same time, 122 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 3: you know there's the there's the whole issue of the 123 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 3: population benefit of everyone being vaccinated and borders being opened. Again, 124 00:05:58,000 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 3: has it. 125 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: Been much in the way when you talk about those 126 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: more minor side effects. Have there been many people getting 127 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: in contact with their medical professionals about some of those 128 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: sort of side effects or are most people just experiencing 129 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,560 Speaker 1: what we'd anticipate, cold like symptoms or flu like symptoms, 130 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,680 Speaker 1: and you know some with the heavy arm and that 131 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: kind of thing. 132 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 3: Again, I think most of us, most of the side 133 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 3: effects are reasonably insignificant. You don't really need to turn 134 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 3: up to a GP for them. I mean, in my case, 135 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 3: I had some muscle achs and phones. I had receiver 136 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 3: for a couple of days. I ago the headache and 137 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 3: that was about it, and I got through it and 138 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 3: moved on. I didn't need to sue see a GP. 139 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 3: Other people had nausea, you know, So it's I think 140 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 3: it's most of the people have sort of moved through 141 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 3: it with the side effects and just moved on. I'm 142 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 3: not aware of people. But again, your GP is the 143 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 3: best person, best place to discuss those issues. 144 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 2: Hey, doctor Parker. 145 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: Obviously, nationally, the Federal Labor Party is proposing a three 146 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: hundred dollars incentive for Aussies to get vaccinated. 147 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: Do you think we need to look at. 148 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: Incentivizing the vaccine or do you think that we are 149 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: going to see a pretty. 150 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: Go take up. 151 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 3: Well, again, I would hope that most sensible Australians would 152 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,160 Speaker 3: look at the benefits of themselves, the families and Australia 153 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 3: generally they're having the vaccine without additional incentives. But I 154 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 3: suppose you've got to do what you've got to do. 155 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 3: I think you'd have to look at what's happening overseas 156 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 3: in terms of the benefit. I mean, there have been 157 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 3: a lot of reason whatever in the US, and you 158 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 3: have to look at if they were effective and improving 159 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: vaccination rates. But you would think the daily news coming 160 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 3: out of Sydney regularly, Brisbane, you know, Melbourne and Adelaide 161 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 3: in the last couple of weeks wouldn't make most people think, jeez, 162 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 3: I need a vaccine. Otherwise, you know, that's all ahead 163 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: of us, So you think people would be aware of 164 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 3: that information and be quite kendic ge vaccinated so it 165 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 3: doesn't happen to them. 166 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,520 Speaker 1: Well, there's plenty of people getting in contact with us 167 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: this morning just saying just get the jab, you know, 168 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: do what's right for the rest of for the rest 169 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: of the nation and for the rest of the territory. 170 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: But I know, as I said earlier, I know there 171 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: is still some of that hesitancy in the community. But 172 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: I reckon that advice that you've given, you know, getting 173 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: on tach with your GP, have a discussion if you worried, 174 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: that is the best best way to do it. Don't 175 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: don't sort of rely on Facebook and social media for 176 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: your information around the vaccine. 177 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 3: That's right. Your GP is the best informed person to 178 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: give you the pros and cons of the vaccine. 179 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, doctor Robert Parker, we always appreciate your time. 180 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: I know you're a busy man. Thank you very much 181 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: for chatting with us today. 182 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 3: Always good to talk Katie. 183 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 2: Thank you. That is doctor Robert Parker. 184 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: There are the head of the Australian Medical Association here 185 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory.