Annastacia Palaszczuk has her first Pfizer vaccine ahead of possible Tokyo Olympics trip

The Queensland Premier says a bite from her dog delayed her vaccination, as she opts for Pfizer despite being over fifty.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is given the her COVID-19 vaccination. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Annastacia Palaszczuk has blamed a dog bite for becoming the final Australian leader older than 50 to have a Covid-19 vaccination, receiving the Pfizer jab on Monday because of a possible visit to the Olympics in Japan.

The Queensland Premier, 51 had her first Pfizer vaccine three months after her NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian, 50, was given her AstraZeneca dose.

Ms Palaszczuk, who became eligible for the vaccine on March 22, said she had initially delayed her jab because of limited federal supply issues.

On Monday, she said she would have had her vaccine in May but was bitten by her dog and needed a tetanus shot first.

“You need two weeks from when you have your tetanus to have a Covid, then I had my flu vaccine,” she said.

Health authorities recommend a two-week wait before the Covid jab after a flu vaccination.

While ordinary Queenslanders are not able to choose which vaccine they receive, the Premier was allowed to opt for the Pfizer jab ahead of a possible trip to Japan to lobby for the 2032 Olympic Games.

Happy Monday everyone! I just received my first COVID jab thanks to Dawn Pedder 👏🙌 pic.twitter.com/TaJT9do9eu

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 6, 2021

“There may be a requirement for the state to present to the whole Olympic committee about the Olympics and I would have been unvaccinated and that is why I had the Pfizer,” she said.

Unlike the two AstraZeneca doses, which must be given three months apart, the second Pfizer jab can be given after 21 days.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall was one of the first people in his state to have the Pfizer jab in late February, while West Australian Premier Mark Mc­Gowan had the AstraZeneca jab on May 3, the first day it was available to all Australians over 50.

The NSW Premier received her first AstraZeneca dose on March 10, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein on April 23 and NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner on March 22.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, both under 50, are yet to receive their first doses.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, who received the AstraZeneca jab last week, said there had been “some reservations around vaccines”, particularly in regional Queensland.

“Anyone could end up travelling into a region with Covid and transmit it very quickly through that community,” she said.

“The north is just as much at risk of COVID as southeast Queensland so we want everyone to do their part and come out and be vaccinated,” she said.

Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli, 42, was due to receive his first COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.