Video Conference with Professor Jodie McVernon, Director of Doherty Epidemiology at the Peter Doherty Institute

On 2nd July 2021, National Cabinet agreed to formulate a National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID Response. The plan consists of four phases defined by achievement of vaccination thresholds broadly expressed as a percentage of the eligible population (aged 16+ years).

Last week, Jodie McVernon presented the Doherty Institute Modelling to the National Cabinet to define target levels of coverage sufficient to transition between these phases.

The Doherty Institute Modelling Report to advise on the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response can now be viewed here: https://lnkd.in/gY_GXtXE

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held a zoom conference with Professor Jodie McVernon, Director of Doherty Epidemiology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

“I think the first thing to make very clear is we’ve had a lot of discussion of herd immunity thresholds and some magic number where there’s a binary cut off and above that life is life as normal and below that we haven’t achieved our goal,” she said.

“Vaccination coverage is a continuum.

“Every Australian who is immunised helps to protect themselves families and community and that will help reduce transmission.”

Professor McVernon said the modelling also showed a steep decrease in people developing serious symptoms or dying from COVID-19 in communities with higher immunisation rates.

“They’re decreased across the board,” she said.

At this session, Professor McVernon presented the rationale and findings of the Doherty Institute modelling to ACCI members and guests across Australia. At the end of her presentation Professor McVernon answered many question in the Q&A session.