AstraZeneca vaccine age changed to over 60s

The immunisation panel has altered the age range on the AstraZeneca jab to over 60s, while claiming there is no reason for those in their 50s to be concerned.

The immunisation panel has confirmed they will increase the age range on the AstraZeneca jab to over 60s but is recommending people continue to get two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine if they’ve already had the first.

It said the risk of rare blood clotting was much lower in the second dose than the first.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was apologetic for the “conservative” approach to the rare blood clotting event linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“This is a difficult circumstance for every nation and a difficult circumstance for our nation,” Mr Hunt said.

“It is a change, and we recognise that that does bring some challenges.

“But the only thing to do is to follow that medical advice.”

He thanked Australians who had already received the 6.2 million doses administered so far

Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the new advice may cause vaccinated Australians aged between 50-59 some concern.

But he said anyone who has had a first dose of AstraZeneca without problem, should feel confident to have their second dose.

Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly says there is no reason for people aged 50-59 to be concerned about getting their second AstraZeneca jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The government on Thursday fully accepted the advice from ATAGI and will now make changes to the vaccination program.

“They (ATAGI) have taken a cautious decision, based on the Australian risk and benefit,” Mr Hunt said.

“That risk and benefit changes with age, the risk of death by COVID goes up as you get older.”

On the issue of supply, the Health Minister said Pfizer had reaffirmed that they will have access to 2.8 million doses during the course of July.

He said this was in excess of the 600,000 that was previously expected.

“We have also requested that anything which can be brought forward, should be brought forward,” Mr Hunt said.

It was yet another hurdle in Australia’s vaccine rollout earlier today, with speculation the expert immunisation panel would move to restrict the AstraZeneca jab to people aged over 60.

The vaccine – which is made in Melbourne and was supposed to be the workhorse of the rollout – had already been limited to those aged over 50.

This was because of the extremely rare risk of blood clots among AstraZeneca recipients.

The Herald Sun understood the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is now working on advice which may recommend lifting the age restriction to 60, placing further pressure on supplies of Pfizer which are already stretched, particularly in Victoria.

The shift comes despite authorities saying they have been able to make major improvements in detecting and treating the rare clot issue.

Senior federal government sources said they expected to receive ATAGI’s advice on Thursday afternoon and would then act on it immediately.

The review comes after a 52-year-old woman from NSW died after a “severe form” of blood clotting in the brain linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

She was the second Australian to die after receiving the jab, and one of 60 recipients who had either a confirmed or probable clot linked to it.

Federal chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said at the time that with 3.6 million doses of AstraZeneca administered so far in Australia, the issue was “extremely rare”.

According to the nation’s drug regulator, 36 people who experienced a clot have since been discharged from hospital. Another 22 remain in hospital, including one who is in intensive care.

There have been 12 new clot cases over the last week, including seven among people aged 50-59.

Victoria Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien receiving his COVID-19 vaccination. Picture: Getty

Prof Kelly said earlier this month that authorities were picking up more cases of the new syndrome than other countries where health systems had been overrun by Covid-19 cases.

“I would say we are getting very good at diagnosing and treating this particular event,” he said.

“But in this particular case that was not successful … We will continue to learn from these unfortunate circumstances and will tie it into advice to all practitioners.”

“In terms of the AstraZeneca rollout … it remains an incredibly important part of our vaccine rollout.”

Prior to ATAGI’s meeting on Thursday, Scott Morrison said there were “shocks that come along the way” to the vaccine rollout as “we’re only seeing again now”.

“You have to deal with those and you have to respond to them,” the Prime Minister told Sky News.

The Herald Sun understands an urgent national cabinet meeting could be called on Friday to sort out how to deal with ATAGI’s advice and keep the rollout on track.

Mr Morrison does not return from his Europe trip until late on Thursday night.