Sandown vaccination hub: local youth embrace AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vaccine hesitancy? That’s so Boomer. The first day of the extended rollout in Victoria is showing many young people are more than happy to receive their dose of AZ.

Punters made their way through the gates at Sandown Racecourse for a different purpose on Monday, as the state government widened the AstraZeneca eligibility to all adults under 40 at state-run hubs.

Vaccine hesitancy is so Boomer.

At least that was the message from a number of people in their 20s at the Sandown Racecourse vaccination hub on Monday, who lined up to receive doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca depending on their eligibility.

Many told Leader that they would not be able to name a friend scared of getting vaccinated with AstraZeneca.

Renae, 18, received her first shot of AstraZeneca with her mum.

“My friends and I message about (the vaccines) quite a lot,” she said.

“All of us are looking forward to getting it.”

A spokesperson for Monash Health said more than 2000 people aged between 18 and 39 had registered to receive their first dose of AstraZeneca on Monday.

“That number is steadily rising,” they said.

It’s the first time AstraZeneca has been available from a state-run vaccination centre for adults under 40, with the Sandown Racecourse one of nine hubs across the state now offering the jab.

Victoria, 21, of Mooroolbark, works in healthcare and so received her second dose of Pfizer today.

But she said her 19-year-old brother would be receiving his first dose of AstraZeneca at Sandown on Tuesday.

“I don’t have a single friend who is hesitant about the vaccine. To be honest I think young people are really good about it,” Victoria said.

Vermont South social worker Kim, 24, said she was “grateful and lucky” to be receiving her vaccine today.

“Grateful towards the scientists,” Kim said

Two 19-year-old, who didn’t want their name published, told Leader that they had just received their first dose of AstraZeneca.

“It’s just the right thing to do,” they said.