Calls for under 40s to get fast-tracked second vaccine dose as NSW opens up

An unfair situation has left one key group less likely to enjoy freedoms when Sydney begins opening up, with one expert calling for change.

Young people should be allowed to get their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine fast-tracked as Greater Sydney gets ready to open up on October 11, an expert says.

University of NSW Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an adviser to the World Health Organisation, points out that many people aged under 40 won’t be fully vaccinated by the reopening date because they’ve only able to access Pfizer for about a month.

Fully vaccinated residents in Greater Sydney are set to enjoy an easing of restrictions including the reopening of retail, hospitality and gyms, once the state reaches its target of getting 70 per cent of adults vaccinated.

The new freedoms will only be available to those who have had two doses of a Covid vaccine.

However, the timetable for vaccine availability has made it virtually impossible for many young people to get their second jab by October 11.

Under 40s were officially able to access the vaccine recommended for them — Pfizer — from August 30 but many were not able to get appointments straight away.

The outbreak in Greater Sydney also saw the time between doses dragged out to eight weeks in some cases as authorities focused on getting as many first doses as possible delivered.

Less than half of those aged under 35 years old are now fully vaccinated, compared to the statewide average of 60 per cent across all age groups.

While one dose of the vaccine provides good protection against hospitalisation and death — important for older age groups who are more at risk of complications — Prof McLaws points out that young people aren’t as likely to be hospitalised.

They were however, more likely to get Covid and pass it on.

The latest statistics show around 70 per cent of Covid cases are in those aged under 40 years old, in Victoria it’s even higher, at 78 per cent.

“(These figures are) basically screaming out that it’s the young ones that are at risk of infection,” Prof McLaws said.

“So let’s get that second dose in them to reduce the risks of acquisition and transmission.”

She said this would also help reduce cases in older age groups as there would be less virus circulating.

Prof McLaws dismissed suggestions lengthening the time between doses provided better protection.

She said the rationale for this came from one small United Kingdom study of about 500 healthcare workers and this dealt with the Alpha strain, not Delta.

“We may well find that protection (is increased) but we don’t have that evidence yet,” she said.

She believes the government should prioritise those aged under 40 to get their second dose of Pfizer within 21-28 days, as originally recommended.

This would substantially increase their protection against symptomatic disease from around 33 per cent, to around 80 per cent.

“We really need to protect them and look after them, instead of expecting them to continue under lockdown restrictions because they are not fully vaccinated,” Prof McLaws said.

“It’s not because they don’t want to be vaccinated, it’s because they haven’t been able to be vaccinated, that’s a significant difference.”

Young people have been eager to get vaccinated, many voluntarily signed up to get AstraZeneca despite it not being recommended for their age group due to a risk of blood clots.

Young people at Sydney Olympic Park to get vaccinated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Prof McLaws said some young people would have children at home and may need some respite and to get back to work. Others could be living in circumstances that would make them more susceptible to infection.

“Not all these young people are living alone, some are sharing with others who may have got two doses, and may inadvertently bring back infection because no vaccination is 100 per cent perfect,” she said.

“Given we are not aiming for a zero infection rate anymore, we need to improve the safety of what we’re doing.

“So these young people can get back to earning a living and enjoying a better lifestyle.”

Prof McLaws also pointed out that it took two weeks after the second dose for the vaccine to provide full protection, this means it would take around six weeks for people to be protected even if they got their second dose within four weeks.

“So if you make it six weeks (for the second dose), they are not going to be safe for eight weeks,” she said.

Prof McLaws said older people in Victoria and NSW already had very high levels of vaccination coverage and were well protected.

Around 80 per cent of those aged 70 years and older in NSW are fully vaccinated, and among those aged between 40-69, rates are around 70 per cent.

More than 80 per cent of those aged over 40 have had their first dose.

“This means that the group aged 40 and over are very well protected against hospitalisation, whether that’s with Pfizer or AstraZeneca,” she said.

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