
CANBERRA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A vaccine adviser to the Australian government said that the country will likely go ahead with the Pfizer vaccine despite recipients dying in Norway.
Allen Cheng, the co-chair of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), said that authorities were expecting approximately one out of every 100,000 Australians to have an allergic reaction to vaccines but that they would protect the most vulnerable people.
"That means we will need to prepare for that," he told Nine Entertainment newspapers on Monday.
"There will be people that do get the infection despite having the vaccination, but the idea is that it reduces the risk (of catching the coronavirus). It may not eliminate it completely, but it will reduce it."
The ATAGI has been advising Health Minister Greg Hunt on the prioritization, safety, distribution and monitoring of COVID-19 vaccines ahead of the beginning of Australia's vaccine program in February.
Cheng said the plan to vaccinate aged care residents with Pfizer's vaccine would likely go ahead despite 30 elderly people in Norway dying after receiving it.
In a separate interview with News Corp Australia, Cheng described the attainment of herd immunity as a "long-term goal" that could involve Australians being immunized multiple times.
"We're going for protection to start with; we want to stop people getting sick and dying," he said.
"That will mean that we will give the vaccine firstly to people who are at the highest risk of getting sick and dying."
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses