Covid vaccine: Health Minister Mark Butler told he looks ‘exactly like’ Ted Lasso

Health Minister Mark Butler was grilled over future Covid boosters on The Project, and told he’s the spitting image of a sitcom character. 

‘Are we likely to see fifth, sixth, seventh jabs Health Minister Ted Lasso?,’ asked panellist Em Rusciano during Thursday night’s episode. 

The slightly taken-aback minister replied that while the number of recommended doses was yet to be determined, the virus would continue to mutate. 

‘I don’t think any of us know that for sure, but I don’t think this virus is disappearing anytime soon, it is continuing to mutate,’ Mr Butler said, amid laughs from the panel. 

Australia’s Federal Health Minister Mark Butler (left) was told he looks ‘exactly like’ the popular sitcom character Ted Lasso (right) played by Jason Sudeikis

Mr Butler went on to hint at the possible rollout of ‘exciting’ new vaccines being developed overseas that were even more effective. 

‘There’s even just a variant vaccine that Pfizer and Moderna have both developed to deal with Omicron in particular,’ he said. 

Rusciano told Mr Butler he looked ‘exactly like’ the loveable football coach played by American actor Jason Sudeikis in the popular 2020 comedy drama. 

She asked if others had noticed his likeness to the character with the minister playfully responding: ‘I’ve been called a lot worse than that.’

Mr Butler said he was a ‘big fan’ of the show but that he wouldn’t be capitalising on his resemblance to the coach for a future vaccination campaign. 

‘That’s a great suggestion, but I don’t think Ted Lasso would approve,’ he joked. 

The Health Minister’s appearance came just hours after a fourth Covid jab was approved for all Australians aged over 30 on Thursday. 

Panellist Em Rusciano (pictured) asked if others had noticed his likeness to the fictional character with the minister playfully responding: ‘I’ve been called a lot worse than that’

The health minister’s appearance on The Project came just hours after a fourth Covid jab was approved for all Australians aged over 30 (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Canberra)

The new wave of BA4 and BA5 subvariants are ripping through Australia due to high transmissibility, with early data suggesting the strains have evolved to evade the existing vaccines and acquired immunity.

In the past 24 hours there were 3,921 people with Covid in hospitals across the country, still below the 5,000-plus around the Australia Day peak of Omicron, but an increase of 24 per cent since mid-May.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI) on Thursday announced Australians over the age of 50 should receive their fourth jab, with the 50-64 age group ‘specifically recommended’ from Monday July 11.

Aussies aged between 30 and 49 will also eligible for the fourth jab if they ‘choose’.

The decision makes the fourth vaccine available for an extra 7.4million Australians, with residents aged 65 and over already eligible for the second booster.

The new wave of BA4 and BA5 subvariants are currently ripping through Australia due to high transmissibility (pictured, a patient is cared for by an ICU nurse in a Covid ward)

Aussies aged between 30 and 49 are now eligible for the fourth jab if they ‘choose’ (pictured, a woman is vaccinated in Melbourne in December, 2021)

Mr Butler said the move came as a response to surging numbers across the country and would alleviate pressure on the health system. 

‘ATAGI specifically recommended that people aged 50 to 64 years should have their fourth dose, while people aged 30 to 49 years may choose to have a fourth shot,’ the health minister said.

People aged over 65 are already eligible for the fourth vaccine, with Mr Butler confirming 60 per cent of that age group have already received the jab.

The interval between vaccinations has also been reduced from four months to three months to combat the new wave of BA4 and BA5. 

Victoria has extended its pandemic declaration by three months until at least October 12 while NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated is ‘crazy’ as the state braces for a third wave to peak.