Scott Morrison shelves vaccination targets

Scott Morrision has confirmed not every Australian will receive a vaccination shot before the end of the year.

Following new advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine the PM said there were too many uncertainties involved in the rollout to set new targets.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says it is not possible to know whether every Australian will receive a vaccine shot before the end of the year, saying the federal government has no plans to set new targets.

Following new advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine due to the risk of blood clots, Mr Morrison said there were too many uncertainties involved in the rollout to set new targets.

“The government has also not set, nor has any plans to set, any new targets for completing first doses,” he said on Facebook.

“While we would like to see these doses completed before the end of the year, it is not possible to set such targets given the many uncertainties involved.

“We will just get on with the job of working together to produce, distribute and administer the vaccines as safely and efficiently as possible.”

The government has distributed updated consent forms and consumer information on the vaccine reflecting the new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, which said the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be given to people under the age of 50.

The federal government is now pushing Pfizer as the preferred vaccine for people under 50, securing an additional 20 million doses.

On Sunday, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said general practitioners were flocking to be part of the rollout, with more than 1000 joining in the past week and the total number now at 4000.

He said the federal government had vaccine indemnity agreements in place that protected doctors from legal exposure in the event of a claim of medical negligence.

“The AMA and college of general practitioners have clear advice in writing from the government to that effect and they also have updated informed consent material,” he said.

“I am saying this on behalf of the government but also on behalf of our legal advice: no doctor need worry.”

In letters to the AMA and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners seen by The Australian, Mr Hunt said the federal government would reimburse medical indemnity insurers for 50 per cent of eligible claims above $500,000 in relation to the administration of vaccines.

Mr Hunt’s comments come after reports emerged doctors were confused over the revised advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine, with some holding concerns over their legal exposure in the instance of blood clots.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid advised people to discuss concerns over the vaccine with their GP, acknowledging the changed ATAGI advice may be confusing for some.

“The advice around the incredibly rare but serious thrombotic events associated with AZ vaccination has made decision-making more difficult for those under 50 who are currently eligible for the vaccine,” he said.

“The AZ vaccine remains very safe and effective, and access to the alternative, preferred Pfizer vaccine is likely to be delayed.”

Opposition healthcare spokesman Mark Butler criticised the federal government for only securing four vaccine contracts, saying it was “best practice” to have at least six. “A range of experts in Australia were saying that the best practice was to have more than four deals, to have six, seven, deals … to ensure there was a backup,” he told the ABC.

The government has contracts for 170 million vaccine doses, ­including 53.8 million of AstraZeneca, 40 million of Pfizer, 51 million of Novavax and 25.5 million more doses through the COVAX Facility.

Meanwhile, the states and territories continue to familiarise themselves with the changed advice on AstraZeneca. NSW and South Australia continue to administer the vaccine to the under 50s if informed consent is given and the benefits of receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risk.

Queensland has stopped administering the jab to those under the age of 50 and further announcements are expected be made next week.

Meanwhile, the Queensland government has announced it will roll out Pfizer clinics across the state.