Toowoomba GP says AstraZeneca vaccine safe but not recommended for people under 60

With state and federal leaders creating confusion around the AstraZeneca vaccine, a Toowoomba GP has cleared the air around whether residents under 60 are allowed to have it.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 5, 2021: A vial of the AstraZenica vaccine, at Murray Bridge Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

A Toowoomba GP and region representative for the Australian Medical Association has cleared the air around vaccine recommendations, declaring the AstraZeneca jab was safe for people under 60 but still not recommended.

Dr Ben Wakefield’s comments come amid a political firestorm over the vaccine, which started when Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week urged young people to get AstraZeneca.

This was countered by both state chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Dr Wakefield, who represents the AMA for the Darling Downs and western Queensland, said while AstraZeneca was safe for people under 60, it was still recommended they got the Pfizer jab.

He said people needed to talk with their GP to weigh up the risk of being unvaccinated against the small risk of contracting a blood clotting illness that affects three out of every million recipients.

“The AMA’s view on it is in line with ATAGI in that we recommend Pfizer for under 60s, but if you’re willing to take risks with the AZ vaccine, it’s OK for under 60s,” Dr Wakefield said.

“You need to discuss the risks of being unvaccinated against the risk of clotting with your GP.

“It’s still a safe vaccine and there’s no blanket exclusion — if we didn’t think it was safe, we wouldn’t have it.

“It’s still a fairly new vaccine, so it’s better to be more conservative than less.”

Dr Wakefield also cleared up confusion around what constituted being fully vaccinated, saying two jabs would be required.

“You do need the second dose to be vaccinated,” Dr Wakefield said.

“You’re not considered fully vaccinated unless you’ve had the two doses.”

Dr Wakefield welcomed the news more GPs would be approved for the Pfizer vaccine across the region.

Currently first responders and other high risk people are being prioritised for the vaccine rollout in Queensland.

Nearly 30,000 people across the state got tested in the 24 hours to Thursday as health authorities continue contact tracing efforts in five locations.

Four new Covid-19 cases were reported on Thursday, two of which the result of community transmission while the others were acquired overseas.

The results were described as encouraging by chief health officer Jeannette Young and Annastacia Palaszczuk, with the Premier confirming a decision on the current lockdown would be made on Friday.