Dan Andrews blasts Scott Morrison’s Pfizer vaccine plan for those aged 16-39

Daniel Andrews has blasted the prime minister’s shock announcement to offer Pfizer jabs to people aged under 40.

Dan Andrews has warned younger Victorians not to bank on enough Pfizer vaccine arriving after the Prime Minister announced Australians aged 16 to 39 would be able to get it from the end of the month.

Scott Morrison announced on Thursday that the nation’s Pfizer vaccine rollout would be expanded to all people in that age group across the country on August 30.

The Victorian Premier said he had no prior warning the announcement was coming and urged people not to cancel their AstraZeneca bookings as Pfizer supply remained an issue across the country.

“If you’ve got a vaccination appointment then turn up and get it,” Mr Andrews said.

“I wouldn’t be banking on anything being here in two weeks.

“I haven’t seen that stock. Is at even here? I hope that by the end of the month 16 to 39-year-olds can get Pfizer (but) I don’t know if they will be able to.”

Mr Andrews said the best vaccine was “the one you can get today”.

Daniel Andrews warned younger Victorians not to bank on increased Pfizer supply arriving. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

“Bookings aren’t open. Why are they not open, I don’t know,” he said.

“The federal government is entitled to make announcements but I’m also entitled to point out the facts – you can’t make a booking for this stuff.

“I haven’t seen it, is it sitting in a warehouse, is it arriving on a big military plane, I don’t know, I’m just saying, for heaven’s sake don’t cancel an appointment you’ve made now on a promise that something is going to be available in a few weeks time.

“I’m certainly not barracking for the stuff not to be here. I would like it to be here and I would like it to be here in record supply, then we can get people vaccinated.”

Pfizer will be available to Aussies aged 16 to 39 from August 30. Picture: AFP

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr also said he had no advanced warning on the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Pfizer vaccine would soon be available to everyone aged 16 to 39.

“This was announced with no advance notice given to states and territories, or any information on the vaccine supply that would be necessary for this to happen,” Mr Barr said.

He said his government was still awaiting information and would hopefully get some more detail at the national cabinet meeting later on Friday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the new Pfizer eligibility on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Asked if he was frustrated by Scott Morrison’s announcement, Mr Barr said: “The Prime Minister is, of course, able to make whatever announcement he determines, but it’s clear from the feedback across the federation that this one was a bit of a captain’s call.”

Mr Barr said the Prime Minister was usually better at communicating with other leaders during the pandemic.

“The Prime Minister has generally been very good at providing a heads up — sometimes we only get a few minutes, but at least he tells us,” Mr Barr said.

“This one came completely out of the blue. Now, I’m not opposed to what he’s announced, I just need to understand how we’re going to do it and we don’t have any information about that.”

More than 28 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have now been fully vaccinated, while the population with at least one dose has just ticked over 50 per cent.

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Originally published as Dan Andrews blasts Scott Morrison’s Pfizer vaccine plan for those aged 16-39