Paul M. Kelly is an Australian public health physician, epidemiologist and public servant who is the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Australia, having served since 29 June 2020.[1] He succeeded Brendan Murphy, who became the Secretary of the Department of Health.[2][3]
Paul Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Chief Medical Officer | |
| Assumed office 29 June 2020 Acting: 29 June – 22 December 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Brendan Murphy |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession | Epidemiologist |
| Signature |  |
Kelly is also the head of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and in that role an adviser to the National Cabinet of Australia created to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]
In the past, Kelly assumed a leadership role in the FluCAN project,[5] a national system used to track people hospitalised with influenza, which helps to determine the efficacy of the flu vaccine.[3]
On 22 December 2020, Kelly was officially appointed to the role of Chief Medical Officer on a permanent basis, having previously served in an acting capacity.[6]
In 2022, Kelly reportedly advised against instituting mandatory COVID-19 tests for travellers from China, though the advice was ignored in favor of adopting a policy more in-line with other countries around the world, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.[7]
References
edit- ^ Tsirtsakis, Anastasia (26 June 2020). "Outgoing Chief Medical Officer praised for work during the pandemic". newsGP. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ Probyn, Andrew (25 June 2020). "Brendan Murphy leaves Chief Medical Officer role, warning borders could remain closed until coronavirus vaccine is developed". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Leadership: Acting Chief Medical Officer". Australian Government. Dept of Health. Retrieved 3 November 2020.}
- ^ Grattan, Michelle (7 April 2020). "Scott Morrison indicates 'eliminating' COVID-19 would come at too high a cost". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Paul M; Kotsimbos, Tom; Reynolds, Anna; et al. (21 February 2011). "FluCAN 2009: initial results from sentinel surveillance for adult influenza and pneumonia in eight Australian hospitals". The Medical Journal of Australia. 194 (4): 169–174. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2011.tb03764.x. PMID 21401456. S2CID 11201851. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Jenkins, Shannon (22 December 2020). "SPaul Kelly officially promoted to chief medical officer". The Mandarin. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly advised against mandatory COVID-19 testing for travellers from China". ABC News. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.