Lack of Covid-19 vaccine choice troubles those over 50

GP surgeries are reporting ­patient cancellations for vaccination appointments, as older Australians raise concerns that they do not have a choice of vaccine.

A vial of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: AFP

GP surgeries are reporting ­patient cancellations for vaccination appointments, as older Australians raise concerns that they do not have a choice of vaccine that is now available only to those aged under 50.

While the Pfizer shot is now recommended for people aged under 50, younger people can choose to get the AstraZeneca vaccine in consultation with their doctor if they deem the benefit to outweighs the remote risk of rare blood clots. However, AstraZeneca is now the only vaccine available to those aged over 50.

Lynn Holt, a policy officer with the Health Issues Centre which advocates for healthcare consumers, said vaccine choice was “absolutely an issue” for people aged over 50.

The centre will hold a forum on vaccine hesitancy to examine the issue of choice for older Australians next month.

“People aren’t being informed that there is a matter of choice that is reasonable to be expected when you’re all being asked to be immunised for the better good of your community,” Ms Holt said.

“I think as time goes on, this issue will become bigger.”

However, the Consumers Health Forum of Australia said it did not believe that choice of ­vaccine for older people was an issue of high importance.

“Given the circumstances presented by the different rates of COVID around the world and the slightly varying efficacy of the different vaccines available now in Australia, choice of approved vaccines should not be an overriding issue,” the forum’s chief executive Leanne Wells said.

“People are not offered a choice of flu vaccine. The more important thing from a consumer and community perspective is to know that the vaccines we are to receive are safe and accessible in a timely way.

“We are more concerned to see assurances that supply is ­secure and that there is transparency around the vaccination program timetable so the community knows what to expect. There is a lack of clarity right now on that front.”

Melbourne doctor Michelle Ananda-Rajah said many older Australians were concerned that the AstraZeneca vaccine was not effective against the South African variant of the virus.