‘That doesn’t answer the question’: Hunt grilled over vaccine backflip

Health Minister Greg Hunt has been put in the hot seat over the government’s backflip on health advice surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has been grilled over the federal government’s bungled messaging over coronavirus vaccines.

Speaking on Today on Wednesday morning, Mr Hunt was left defending the Morrison government’s decision to allow under 60s to obtain an AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab after consulting a doctor, despite no changes in the health advice from peak medical bodies.

Mr Hunt was called out for not directly responding to questions as to why GPs and health bodies were not consulted before the changes.

“That doesn‘t answer the question that Karl just asked,” Today host Allison Langdon said.

People under 40 can now access AstraZeneca. Picture: Geoff Caddick / AFP

“Why wouldn’t you give GPs the heads up when they’re the ones who are copping all the phone calls from people who hear that announcement …”

Mr Hunt responded: “Well, I think the important thing here is, they advocate for a policy change and then we listen, and then we respond”.

The Australian Medical Association and the peak immunisation body ATAGI has not changed its health advice, with Pfizer still being the preferred vaccine.

Mr Hunt also agreed Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for people under the age of 60.

“Pfizer is the preferred vaccine,” he said.

“That‘s what has been received from the expert body and that remains the case, and it’s always been the position that people under that could, nevertheless, access the AstraZeneca through what’s called informed consent.”

Minister for Health Greg Hunt was grilled about the government’s vaccine backflip. Picture: Sam Mooy / Getty Images

It has also been reported the medical bodies were not consulted or notified about the federal government’s changes to vaccines.

Mr Hunt said the AMA and other groups were notified of the changes following Monday’s national cabinet meeting.

“They were notified at the end of the national cabinet, and I think that is one of the things that we have to do,” he said.

The Commonwealth also agreed on legal indemnity for medical workers administering the vaccine.

Mr Hunt said medical groups were notified on the new indemnity measures which would prevent doctors from legal issues for administering the vaccine.

“I met with the RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) on Sunday about the medical indemnity and that was something that they were very strongly pushing for,” he said.