The government has announced any Australian over 50 will now have access to a free consultation from a doctor to discuss COVID-19 vaccinations.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the new measure on Friday.

“To assist our GPs, to assist and support those who are coming forward for vaccinations, there will be a new Medicare item for over-50s to allow for a general practice consultation,” Hunt said.

“It will be done by GPs … It will be bulk billed.”

Karen Price, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said it was urgent the measure be made.

“We are dealing with increasing vaccine hesitancy right across the country,” she said.

“I’m seeing it in my own practice in Melbourne, almost all my patients have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.”

The AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer recommended to anyone under the age of 60, so Prime Minister Scott Morrison is attempting to change major measures for the vaccine rollout after meeting with state and territory leaders on Friday.

Experts are maintaining that while it is rare, the risk of extremely rare but serious blood clots heavily outweighs the benefits of that particular jab.

The recommended age has been revised up from 50, meaning all eligible people under 60 will be offered Pfizer.

Hunt has maintained his confidence in the Pfizer jab and said re-booking people in their 50s who were down to get a first AstraZeneca jab would likely lead to a fall in vaccination rates.

“The interesting point here was that some in that group, who were not intending to be vaccinated in the near term, may well choose to be vaccinated,” he said.

Only four percent of adults have received both doses of the COVID vaccine, seriously lagging behind the rest of the world in vaccination rates.