The Australian Government has today now announced an additional 20 million Pfizer doses for expected delivery by quarter 4 this year, after negotiations since yesterday’s decision to change the COVID-19 vaccination program. Read more below and see FAQs to help manage community enquiries.
The Australian Government has adjusted its approach to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, following advice yesterday from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
ATAGI now recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine be preferred over the AstraZeneca vaccine for adults aged under 50 years.
The change follows the latest vaccination findings out of Europe and the UK, after extremely rare instances of people who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine developing a very specific syndrome involving blood clots with low platelet counts. There is one reported case of this having occurred in Australia.
In the 8 April 2021 joint statement, Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy and Australian Government Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the Government’s decision to accept the ATAGI advice would have implications for the vaccine rollout program. These will be worked through as an ‘urgent priority’.
ATAGI’s recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults – and hence a higher benefit from vaccination – and a potentially increased risk of ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia’ following AstraZeneca vaccination among those aged under 50.
ATAGI has further recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine can be used in adults aged under 50 where:
- the benefits clearly outweigh the risk for that individual, and
- the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.
It has also recommended people who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given the second dose, including adults under 50 years.
Dr Murphy and Prof. Kelly said the AstraZeneca vaccine remains highly effective at preventing death and severe illness among people who have contracted COVID-19. They noted the incidence of the blood-clotting syndrome is very rare.
Prof. Kelly said the Government had accepted the new aged-based recommendations out of an ‘abundance of caution’.
Resources available at the Department of Health website have been updated.
General Practice FAQs for Community
The Australian Government Department of Health has sent direct updates to all vaccine providers, including the provision of community FAQs to support all practices responding to patient questions.
Please download these by clicking on the image and share with your staff.