All Aussies can now get vaccinated but there is a catch

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that the national cabinet has agreed on a new no-fault indemnity scheme for GPs to give the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine will be distributed to Australians under the age of 60 who are willing to accept the extremely rare blood clot risk.

“This relates to encouraging Australians to go and chat to their GP about their vaccination, and to have their vaccination administered,” he said.

“Now, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice, talks about a preference for AstraZeneca, to be available, and made available to those as preferred for those over 60, but the advice does not preclude persons under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“And so if you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP, and we’ve already made announcements to support those additional consultations with the GPS so you can have that conversation.

“And secondly, we are also providing the indemnity scheme for those general practitioners, so they can actively engage with you, and you can make the best decision for your health.”

Morrison confirmed that people under 40 can go to their GP and get the vaccine immediately.

“To get access to AstraZeneca, if they’re willing to take on that risk, if they wish to go and speak to their job or their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so. So the answer is yes, they can go and do that.”

However, those under 40 without serious health conditions are the only ones eligible for the vaccine.

Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid said that the risk of a blood clot from the vaccine is extremely rare.

“People who have had a first dose of Astra Zeneca must still have their second dose as recommended. The overseas evidence clearly shows that two doses of Astra Zeneca are needed to protect people against COVID-19 variants of concern including the Delta strain,” he said.

“With hundreds of millions of doses of AstraZeneca being administered in countries all over the world, we also know that the risk of clotting in second doses is negligible, about 1.5 in a million.

“People who are unsure about the benefits of vaccinations should speak with their GP who can provide advice and support to help people come to an informed decision about vaccination.”