Coronavirus updates LIVE: Australia’s first doses of the Pfizer vaccine administered; Victoria records no new COVID-19 cases as $143 million support package announced for businesses impacted by recent lockdown

Pfizer Australia and New Zealand managing director Anne Harris has welcomed news of the first Australians receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as an historic moment in the fight against COVID-19.

“This is a momentous day for Australians, for science, and a proud day for Pfizer,” Ms Harris said in a statement released this afternoon.

Ms Harris said Pfizer was honoured to bring to Australia the first mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 - which some readers may be surprised to learn has a name: COMIRNATY.

Ms Harris said the safety of the vaccine was paramount, and Pfizer would work closely with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to ensure the safety of the vaccine during the rollout.

While we’ve already heard that Australia has recorded zero new cases today, here’s a little more detail about the coronavirus situation across the country.

When it comes to Victoria’s COVID-19 update, the Department of Health said on Sunday there were 25 active cases of COVID-19 across the state, with 19 of those cases locally acquired. Six cases remain active in hotel quarantine.

One patient with COVID-19 remains in hospital in Victoria.

Western Australia recorded a single new case of COVID-19 overnight - a woman in her 50s from overseas who is in hotel quarantine. The state has just three active cases of the virus.

Among the army of people crowded inside Castle Hill Medical Centre in Sydney on Sunday, Dr Jesse Li was perhaps the most nervous, according to reporter Josh Dye.

As Prime Minister Scott Morrison rolled up his sleeve to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Dr Li was the man to insert the needle.

It was an unusual medical appointment as journalists peered to watch and cameras flashed to capture the moment.

“I must say my heart was pounding a little bit inside,” Dr Li said. “But I kept my cool. I just forgot the cameras and knew that he’s a person, one of the first to get the vaccine, and I’ve just got to get the job done.

Music venues are struggling to put on viable live shows as they battle crowd restrictions and noise complaints outdoors, raising fears it will take years for Melbourne’s prized live music scene to recover.

While the pain was nationwide, Melbourne bore the brunt due to prolonged restrictions during the second wave of coronavirus infections.

National music charity Support Act said 44 per cent of its crisis relief went to Victorian artists, crew and industry workers between May and December last year.

A survey by RMIT last week revealed 58 per cent of Victorians working in music had considered leaving the industry, and more than 3500 musical names begged the federal government to extend the JobKeeper wages scheme beyond March 31.

Earlier today, you might recall, we had to cut our coverage of Victoria’s daily coronavirus update short because the continuous sound of church bells nearby was drowning out the speakers (see 10.53am post).

We lost the video feed just as Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was about to address the media, but fortunately, state political reporter Sumeyya Ilanbey was at the press conference and can fill us all in on what he had to say.

She writes that Mr Guerra welcomed the government’s $143 million support package, but called for greater certainty and clarity on the triggers for any future lockdowns.

He said the five-day lockdown had been “devastating” for businesses that had already been reeling from impacts of the state’s second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.