Federal Government reveals updated vaccine plan with AstraZeneca to be phased

The AstraZeneca jab could be phased out very soon if the federal government’s vaccine projections ring true.

The federal government is predicting the AstraZeneca vaccine will be phased out by the end of the year, given all Australians older than 60 should have received both doses.

This follows recent changes to the medical advice surrounding the AstraZeneca jab due to blood blot concerns.

People aged 60 and older are now the only ones eligible to receive the vaccine; previously the cut off was 50. The Morrison government believes this will reduce the demand for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Instead the focus will shift to Pfizer and Moderna.

The revelations were unveiled in the health department’s six-month vaccine projections, which also outline the vaccine doses each state and territory will be allocated each week for the rest of the year.

Modelling predicts little need for the AstraZeneca vaccine by October but it will still be produced and made available at request.

AstraZeneca will be phased out. Picture: Dean Martin / NCA NewsWire

The new data suggests that by October, at least 1.7 million doses of Pfizer will be made available to the states and territories each week.

Moderna should be available from September depending on approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

According to the latest data, there will be between 1.7 million and 2.3 million Pfizer jabs available nationwide each week from October and between 430,000 and 615,000 of Moderna shots.

While AstraZeneca will be “subject to request”.

Vaccines will be allocated to each jurisdiction based on population.

Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed last week that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine be administered to people older than 60.

Mr Hunt said government had accepted ATAGI’s “strong, clear advice” as it had done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, but insisted Australia remained on track to offer all eligible Australians a vaccine by the end of the year.

Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed the change to AstraZeneca advice. Picture: Martin Ollman / NCA NewsWire

“What we also know is that, for those who are in the 50 to 59 group, it is a change, and we recognise that that does bring some challenges,” he said at the time.

“They will now have access to the Pfizer that they do need, and we ask for their patience while the general practices are rolled out.”

Last week there were 12 new cases of a rare blood clotting cases linked to AstraZeneca over seven days.

The TGA will release an updated report on adverse reactions later on Thursday.

A 52-year-old NSW woman died earlier in the month from a clot in her brain. While a 48-year-old woman died in April.

Originally published as Federal Government reveals updated vaccine plan with AstraZeneca to be phased