Covid-19 Vaccination race: Huge SA demand for Pfizer from under 40s

Almost 116,000 people booked a vaccine on Monday after Pfizer was offered to people under 40. The Modbury cluster has also ended, and the border closed to parts of the NT.

Record numbers of South Australians aged under 40 have rushed online to book a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination as the state’s top doctor declared the latest outbreak over.

In the vaccination rollout’s biggest day, confusion and delays initially reigned as the federal booking website crashed amid unprecedented demand from a frenzy of eligible people aged between 16 and 39.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier on Monday announced the end of the Modbury cluster after more than 28 days of no local transmissions.

Police Commissioner Grant Steven closed the SA border to travellers from Darwin and Katherine. People arriving from other parts of the Territory will have to be tested for Covid-19 on days 1, 5 and 13.

They will also have to isolate until they return a negative test.

Darwin and Katherine have started a snap three-day lockdown following one case that emerged from a NSW medi-hotel.

SA, Western Australia and Tasmania are the only states not in lockdown.

Almost 116,000 people booked their jab on Monday, 97,000 of whom were within three hours of appointments officially opening at 9am.

The next biggest day of bookings was 29,534 recorded on June 8. Social media was awash with complaints after under-40s were blocked from booking a vaccination on the federal government’s site.

SA will be handed 47,940 extra Pfizer doses from one million vials sent from Poland. SA Health has 107,670 vaccines stockpiled, 51,449 of which are Pfizer.

Saying she was delighted with the response from young people, Prof Spurrier said the booking system had stabilised by lunchtime.

Ahead of Tuesday’s transition committee meeting, Prof Spurrier declared the Modbury cluster “contained” after two incubation cycles.

“However, with the highly contagious Delta variant now a dominant strain in Australia, now is not the time to become complacent,” she said.

“The Covid-19 situation in SA can change very rapidly, so please continue to work together to protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community.”

While reporting no new cases on Monday, Prof Spurrier again called for a significant increase in testing and “strongly encouraged” people to vaccinate.

While reporting no new cases on Monday, Prof Spurrier again called for a significant increase in testing and “strongly encouraged” people to vaccinate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

She wants Sunday’s 3099 tests to rise to at least 8000 a day. More than 7000 tests were recorded on August 4.

“Please get yourself tested for Covid-19 no matter how mild the symptoms and on the first day you get (them), as it is the only way we can ensure there are no undetected cases in our state,” she said. The cluster’s 22nd and final case, a man in his 20s, is in a stable condition in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit.

The SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) also announced new rules that only fully vaccinated Adelaide-based paramedics would be deployed by the middle of next month – a similar rule to flu vaccines.

SAAS executive director of operations Rob Elliott said one in 10 staff was currently not vaccinated.

“Those who elect not to be vaccinated by choice, rather than medical grounds … need to understand this may affect current terms and conditions,” he said.

A nurse administers the Pfizer vaccination to Elliot Ridgway at the Noarlunga Vaccination Hub. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Premier Steven Marshall praised the “stampede” after a “very significant deterioration” around the country.

“We don’t think it is possible to completely eliminate Covid permanently from SA,” he said.

“But we really do need to see vaccination rates very significantly higher than where they are at the moment.”

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