Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is set to be thrown into further chaos, with the federal government's vaccine advisory recommending the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to those aged 60 and older.
The military-led rollout has now been given the name, Operation Covid Shield and 2.8 million doses of the alternative COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer are now due next month.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended a change in advice after a second Australian, a 52-year-old woman, died after developing a rare case of blood clots associated with the vaccine.
"They have recommended an increase in the age range for those who should be using AstraZeneca from 50 to 60 and above," Mr Hunt said.
"And they have therefore recommended that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for under 60s."
Mr Hunt said the roll-out was still on track, but he conceded it was a challenge.
"It's a challenge, every day, every day during COVID," he said. "The world has challenges. Australia's challenges, thankfully, mercifully have been different to the rest of the world."
Until now, the AstraZeneca shot was to be given only to people 50 and above.
Mr Hunt spoke to the Australian head of Pfizer on Thursday about the issue of supply.
"We will have access to 2.8 million doses during the course of July, which is in excess of what we had previously indicated. So that is positive," Mr Hunt said.
"We were previously expecting 600,000, it has been increased to 2.8 million. We have also requested that anything which can be brought forward, should be brought forward. It is a difficult, challenging global situation."
ATAGI has also recommended that second doses be completed for all those who have had AstraZeneca who were under 60 years of age.
State and territory health ministers will hold an urgent meeting on Thursday to consider the next steps in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout based on the ATAGI advice.
The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed by Oxford University, was set to be the major pillar of Australia's vaccine rollout, with Melbourne-based CSL signing a deal to produce the vaccines onshore.
But when concerns were raised in European countries over rare but serious blood clotting conditions developing in the weeks after receiving the first jab, in April the government was forced to recommend only people aged over 50 get the vaccine.
That decision was based on the higher risk to people aged over 50 if they get COVID-19, and the higher risk of blood clots in younger people after receiving the vaccine.
According to the Health Department, the risk of developing the side effect is low and may occur in four to six people in every million after being vaccinated.
The likely change in advice will put further pressure on Australia's supply of Pfizer vaccines, the only other vaccine against COVID-19 approved and available in Australia. That vaccine must be imported from overseas, and while supply is expected to increase next month, large amounts are not expected until at least September.
This story AstraZeneca to be limited to over 60s in 'Operation Covid Shield' first appeared on The Canberra Times.
