Data shows SA Health has only administered 34.5 per cent of its COVID-19 vaccine doses, but the figures are disputed

South Australia has only administered a third of its COVID-19 vaccine doses so far, making it the nation’s slowest rollout by percentage of population.

South Australia has the nation’s slowest COVID-19 vaccine rollout rate, data shows, as a major jab hub for healthcare and emergency staff is to open.

Figures, obtained by The Advertiser, show SA Health has administered just over a third of the vaccine doses it has received from the Federal Government – a long way short of other states.

It comes as the State Government will on Wednesday reveal plans for a mass-vaccination hub at the Adelaide Showgrounds.

The new figures show all states and territories are yet to use tens of thousands of doses they have been supplied with.

According to the figures, SA Health had received 65,070 doses as of Monday, but had only administered 22,497, or 34.5 per cent.

SA Health officials, however, disputed the data. They said the state had received 56,500 doses from the Commonwealth, of which 14,920 were only received in the past two days.

SA’s tally of completed jabs was 24,145, as of Tuesday, or 42 per cent. Even based on those SA Health figures, it is still the lowest percentage rate in the country.

In contrast, WA has used 62 per cent of its doses, followed by Tasmania (59 per cent) and Queensland (55 per cent).

SA Government officials could not explain the low vaccination rate but said doses were not being held back so people could get their second jab on time.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier this week said she was “very pleased” with SA’s rollout.

“I am really keen to have everyone vaccinated as soon as possible,” she said. “But if you have to have a system in place, it can’t just happen overnight.”

The states are tasked with vaccinating priority frontline workers, including ICU nurses and hotel quarantine staff, in Phase 1A. The Federal Government covers aged and disability care residents.

The figures are based on analysis of latest data, comparing Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses in each state, as of Monday, with total jabs administered as of Sunday.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, Premier Steven Marshall, COVID-19 Coordinator Grant Stevens and Health Minister Stephen Wade get their second vaccination. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, on Tuesday acknowledged “until recently” everyone had been impacted by “limited supply”.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said SA was third highest in the country for vaccinations per capita, showing the state had a “safe, steady and effective” rollout.

He will today announce the Showgrounds hub at Wayville will open within a month. It will vaccinate at least 3000 healthcare, police, fire and emergency workers a week.

Community clinics will open next month in Port Lincoln and Mt Gambier, while a specialist team will be dispatched to Kangaroo Island.

GPs are also involved in Phase 1B, to protect Australians aged over 70.