AstraZeneca COVID vaccine rollout in NSW clinics delayed

Over 50s in NSW who want the AstraZeneca jab from state-run clinics will have to wait after technical delays with the online booking system.

Over 50s in NSW who want an AstraZeneca jab will need to wait until May 24 to book in a vaccination at a state-run clinic because the government needs more time to get its online booking system up and running.

That’s despite national cabinet agreeing last week to make the AstraZeneca jab available to over 50s through state and territory vaccination clinics from May 3.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday said the state’s GP network should do the heavy lifting in bringing forward the AstraZeneca jabs for over 50s.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian with Health Minister Brad Hazard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Robinson

“It’s important for us to allow the GP network to do its job,” she said.

“The GP network has said that they’ll be ready to accept people over the age of 50 from the 17th of May, we think it makes sense for us not to go ahead of the GP network,” the Premier said.

Ms Berejiklian said that confidence in the AstraZeneca shot will be boosted if people go through their GP rather than a NSW Health site.

She said a three-week delay will give NSW the ability “to get our systems in place to make sure people have a positive experience”.

“When you look at the scheme of things, I don’t think a few weeks will make a difference, but what will make a difference is having people confident in the system,” she said.

“We want to make sure those that are in the highest risk jobs, those are the most vulnerable in NSW, get the vaccination first”

Ms Berejiklian also indicated that she argued in national cabinet against state and territory vaccination centres offering AstraZeneca to the general population over 50s ahead of GP clinics.

“I made my views very clear at that meeting, my views have been consistent.

“I think it’s important for the GP network to start before the state does, or at the same time, and my view has not changed,” she said.

The Premier had previously asked the federal government to allow NSW vaccination hubs to give the general public their vaccine dose.

NSW Health administered 3,485 vaccine doses on Tuesday, taking its total to 198,492 doses.

Nine COVID cases were recorded in hotel quarantine in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. A “double digit” number of positive cases from overseas will be included in Thursday’s update, Ms Berejiklian said.

The Premier on Wednesday said she supported a “pause” in flights coming from India amid that country’s growing COVID crisis.

“In the meantime, what we can do is build our systems to make sure that we can continue to welcome people from India when it’s safer to do so,” she said.

“My heart absolutely breaks for what’s going on in India.”

Chief health officer Kerry Chant said infections are increasing in people travelling from India into hotel quarantine.