One of Australia’s most respected infectious disease experts says other than harsh and prolonged lockdowns, a highly vaccinated population is the only way to prevent a third wave of coronavirus.

Asked whether Australia was at risk of a third wave of the virus, mirroring the out-of-control outbreaks ravaging countries such as Taiwan, Professor Lewin said: Whats happening in Taiwan could absolutely happen in Australia at any time.
The island, which had all but eradicated the virus, had only vaccinated less than 1 per cent of its population and is now recording more than 700 cases a day.
Professor Lewin said other than harsh and prolonged lockdowns, a highly vaccinated population was the only way to prevent a third wave.
Singapore, South Korea, Thailand are all seeing resurgence of cases. Thats because we have new variants and we have a completely vulnerable population.
Professor Lewin said no timeline had been given on when the promised doses of the Pfizer vaccine would arrive in Australia, and the country could not afford to have millions of Australians waiting for another vaccine.
Data from the US and the UK, which have both used Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, showed the two types of jabs were on par in preventing severe disease and transmission.
Doubts about vaccine side effects top the list of reasons for a concerning level of vaccine hesitancy in the findings of a survey conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age by research company Resolve Strategic.
In the middle of a heated debate about when to open Australias borders, 15 per cent of adults surveyed said they were not at all likely and 14 per cent not very likely to be vaccinated in the months ahead.
Participants also said they believed there was no rush to take a jab while the international borders were closed.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has also pleaded for more Victorians to get vaccinated, conceding the states mass clinics were still not running at full capacity.
My message to every Victorian is the best vaccine is the one thats available to you now, Mr Foley said.
I will strongly personally recommend to my family and my friends in the over-50s category the AstraZeneca vaccine. Ive had it. My family have had it. I strongly recommend it.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation issued an advisory in early April recommending people under 50 receive the Pfizer vaccine ahead of the AstraZeneca jab due to the risk of the rare blood-clotting condition that was mostly detected in younger people.
A number of leading experts in haematology and clotting conditions argue Australias policy of continuing AstraZeneca vaccines for people aged 50 and over strikes the right balance.
The risk of the clotting condition is estimated to be as low as one in 200,000 by some experts.
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