Paul Kelly (doctor)
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Paul Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Chief Medical Officer | |
| In office 29 June 2020 – 21 October 2024 (Acting: 29 June – 22 December 2020) | |
| Preceded by | Brendan Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Tony Lawler |
| Personal details | |
| Profession | Epidemiologist |
| Signature |  |
Paul M. Kelly is an Australian public health physician, epidemiologist and public servant who was the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Australia, having served from June 2020 to October 2024.[1][2] He succeeded Brendan Murphy, who became the Secretary of the Department of Health.[3][4]
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.[5]
In the past, Kelly assumed a leadership role in the FluCAN project,[6] a national system used to track people hospitalised with influenza, which helps to determine the efficacy of the flu vaccine.[4]
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.[7]
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.[8]
He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2025.[2]