Queensland and WA leaders hit back at AstraZeneca jab push, urging young Australians not to take vaccine

State leaders have pushed back against Scott Morrison’s decision to allow more Australians access to the controversial AstraZeneca vaccine.

Multiple state premiers have pushed back against Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision to allow more Australians access to the controversial AstraZeneca vaccine, saying it should be reserved only for those over 40.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday the government would indemnify GPs who administered the jab to people under 60 who wanted it.

But leaders in both NSW and Western Australian have hit back at the advice.

In Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been no national cabinet agreement, despite Mr Morrison earlier claiming it had been a joint decision.

Ms Palaszczuk said it went directly against the advice of chief health officer Jeannette Young, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Australian Medical Association.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she did not want anyone under 40 to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“In Queensland, we always follow the advice of the chief health officer,” she said.

“So, I urge Queenslanders to listen to Dr Young and follow the advice of our chief health officer.”

The state revealed on Wednesday it only had eight days of the Pfizer vaccine left, and had requested more stock from the federal government.

Dr Young said she did not want anyone under 40 to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“They are at increased risk of getting the rare clotting syndrome. We‘ve seen up to 49 deaths in the UK from that syndrome,” she said.

“I don‘t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got Covid, probably wouldn’t die.

“We’ve had very few deaths due to Covid-19 in Australia in people under the age of 50, and wouldn’t it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland who dies related to this pandemic died because of the vaccine?”

The Australian Medical Association previously advised the vaccine should only be taken by those over 40, amid links to a rare blood clotting disorder for younger age groups. Photo: Geoff Caddick/AFP

The AMA previously advised the vaccine should only be taken by those over 40, amid links to a rare blood clotting disorder for younger age groups, backing its comments again this week.

In Western Australia, Premier Mark McGowan said he had been advised those under 40s should not get the jab.

Earlier this week, Mr McGowan said over-60s should also have access to the Pfizer vaccine.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said his state was following the advice from the AMA and ATAGI. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

“The health advice from the chief health officer, indeed the national health advice from the Australian Technical Group on Immunisation, otherwise known as ATAGI is that that shouldn’t happen,” he said.

“Clearly, we get different advice, I suppose, or have a different approach.”

Federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews hit back at the Queensland premier over her comments.

“Clearly what Annastacia Palaszczuk is doing is making sure that she is doing as much as she possibly can to ensure that she puts up a smokescreen to hide the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of quarantine that is administered and managed by the Queensland Government,” Ms Andrews said.

Ms Andrews said people needed to take the advice of their doctor.

“You need to make an informed decision and if you consent you wish to take the AstraZeneca vaccination, it is available for you to do so.”

Speaking to ABC News on Wednesday, Melbourne GP Vyom Sharma said it was more than fair for the states to be publicly critical of the government.

“Frankly leadership needs to come from the top - the government - and the responsibility was to co-ordinate the stakeholders at the table. It was their responsibility. The fact they didn’t do that, you are seeing this play out publicly,” Dr Sharma said.

Originally published as Queensland and WA leaders hit back at AstraZeneca jab push, urging young Australians not to take vaccine