Australians aged 16 to 39 can soon access Pfizer vaccine

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a huge change to the national vaccine rollout for people aged under 40.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced Australians aged 16 to 39 will be able to access Pfizer vaccines from August 30.

While younger people cannot yet make a booking, Mr Morrison said more details would be revealed soon.

“So that’s 8.6 million extra getting access to the program at the end of August,” Mr Morrison told reporters on Thursday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

He also said authorities were continuing to work on a way to implement a vaccination program for children aged 12 to 15.

“We’ll have further things to say about that once we’ve received at least that interim ATAGI advice, then they will give us their full advice and we’ll be taking further steps there,” the Prime Minister said.

“I just want to assure particularly parents, vaccinating children is something we take really seriously and we do it very carefully.

“One of the most effective ways of stopping the spread of Covid-19 to children is for parents themselves to be vaccinated.”

Mr Morrison said 16.2 million vaccines had been administered in Australia so far.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said 50.2 per cent of Australians, or 10.3 million people, had received their first dose among the eligible population.

People are urged to get vaccinated. Picture: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the goal of zero cases of Covid-19 is no longer achievable, despite other state leaders indicating a different position.

The Prime Minister said the idea that there would not be a single case of coronavirus in Australia, including in hotel quarantine or isolation, was never a goal.

“That has never been Australia’s goal — ever,” he said.

“I am assuming that’s not what premiers are referring to when they say Covid-zero.”

Mr Morrison said the aim was to minimise cases as far as possible, preferably down to zero people who were infectious in the community.

“I think the Premier (Ms Berejiklian) is being very realistic about what the opportunity do that now in NSW is given the status of the serious Delta outbreak that we’re seeing there,” he said.

“Whether that can be achieved in Victoria with the cases we’re seeing now and the extension of lockdown, well time will tell.

“Suppress and vaccinate, drive the cases as low as you possibly can that are infectious in the community, because the stronger we go into phase B at 70 per cent, the better off the whole country is.”