Territory Covid-19 jab rollout reshuffled again after new Federal health advice on AstraZeneca
The Territory’s vaccine rollout has been forced to “recalibrate” for the second time in several months, after more reports of bloodclotting in the AstraZeneca vaccine forced authorities to act.
Northern Territory
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THE Northern Territory’s vaccine rollout has been forced to “recalibrate” for the second time in three months, amid fresh recommendations around the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Despite being overwhelmingly safe, the Commonwealth on Thursday advised the AstraZeneca jab should only be administered to people aged 60 and over.
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Authorities are however insisting anyone who has received AstraZeneca for their first dose will need to get it again for their second jab 12 weeks later.
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said around 20,000 Territorians would be affected by the new advice.
“Those AstraZeneca appointments will automatically cancel, but if someone does wish to still get AstraZeneca, they can be provided with the information so they have informed consent,” Ms Fyles said.
“So it is certainly an impact but not a significant one.”
Ms Fyles said she was expecting an “uptick” in deliveries of the Pfizer vaccine.
“Hopefully in the next 24 hours or so, we will be able to have more bookings for the Pfizer (vaccine) and the system will accept them with their age group.”
It follows a troubled rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being manufactured by CSL in Melbourne.
Two people in Australia have died of bloodclotting associated with the vaccine.
Federal chief health officer Paul Kelly said new information had revealed 12 new cases of a “rare but sometimes very serious clotting condition” linked to AstraZeneca in the past week.
But Professor Kelly said the second dose was much safer than the first and urged the 815,000 Australians who had received the vaccine to show up.
“If you’ve had the first dose, make sure you get your second dose. My father had AstraZeneca last week, and I’ll be advising him to go ahead and get that second dose,” Professor Kelly said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he hoped more doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be delivered sooner in the year than previously expected, and described the new advice as a minor interruption.
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