Mixed Covid jab messages confuse everyone

Prime Minister Scott Morrison receives a dose of the Pfizer vaccine in February. Picture: AFP

From the beginning of the pandemic, the federal government has insisted that in every decision it took, it was following the health advice.

Now it has announced a major change of policy on the AstraZeneca vaccine that runs counter to the recommendation of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation that Pfizer is preferred for those under 60.

It’s true the ATAGI has never said those aged under 60 can’t get AstraZeneca if they are willing to take the risk in consultation with their doctor, but it’s very hard to reconcile their recommendation Pfizer is preferred for that age group with the federal government’s new policy that effectively gives the green light to young people to get AstraZeneca.

The mixed messages are the last thing a program that relies on vaccine confidence needs.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says it will continue to advise those aged under 60 that they should follow the ATAGI’s recommendation and line up for Pfizer. It’s staggering that the government failed to consult with GPs – who are the ones that have to explain all of this to patients – before announcing they would open up eligibility to AstraZeneca to young people.

There is clearly a need to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible, especially in the wake of the Delta variant threat. But it’s also clear that there were other factors motivating the federal government’s change of policy. One of those factors is that there are plentiful supplies of AstraZeneca vaccine that face the prospect of being wasted, with demand from older people to receive the vaccine not matching the supply.

At the same time, there’s not enough Pfizer vaccine available to vaccinate younger people quickly. One of the reasons for this is the government was too slow in securing enough Pfizer. If Pfizer had been arriving earlier, we would not need to ask young people to weigh up the risks and benefits of getting AstraZeneca now.

The vaccine program has been shambolic, with constantly changing advice and mixed messages that have left many people highly confused. And yet, we’re told that there’s no plan for a mass media campaign any time soon that might provide some clarity. The government has not adequately explained the change in its policy on AstraZeneca and it’s high time that it did.