Some quarantine workers rejecting COVID jab

Victorians turning up to get their AstraZeneca vaccine have been turned away from vaccination centres.

Victorians under 50 are being turned away from COVID-19 vaccination centres today as hospitals and clinics face legal hurdles thrown up by changing advice in the Astrazeneca jab rollout.

With Federal and state health authorities still to provide details outlining the circumstances under 50s can consent to receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, medical sources have told the Herald Sun they have no option than cancelling all shots until official guidance is provided.

Sources at several COVID-19 vaccination centres have confirmed they have had to turn away patients who had arrived for their previously booked shots today because they would not be legally protected if there were any complications - even though some of the would-be patients were themselves healthcare workers who had examined the risk profile and wanted to proceed with their vaccines.

The Victorian Department of Health confirmed it was awaiting guidance from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Therapeutic Goods Administration about how the phase 1A and phase 1B COVID-19 vaccine rollout could continue, especially for eligible emergency services workers or those with chronic health conditions aged under 50.

“Yesterday, ATAGI made a number of recommendations to the Commonwealth Government concerning the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine,” A health department statement siad.

“In accordance with those recommendations, the Victorian Department of Health has written to health services administering COVID-19 vaccines to communicate these recommendations and ensure they are observed.

“These recommendations clearly have implications for the Australian Government’s vaccine program rollout across all states and territories. Victorian health officials will have further discussions with the Commonwealth on these matters today.

“Health services administering COVID-19 vaccines in Victoria are doing an outstanding job. They will observe ATAGI’s recommendations to ensure we are achieving the highest levels of safety and quality.

“Victorians who have any questions about their health or about AstraZeneca should consult their doctor.”

Western Australia Chief Health Officer Marc Dodd ordered his state’s clinics to cease all AstraZeneca shots for those under 50.

“People under 50 who are booked in to receive their AstraZeneca vaccine will have their appointments cancelled,” he said.

“If you have a booking tomorrow or in coming days, please do not show up for your appointment.

QUARANTINE WORKERS REJECTING COVID JAB

Victorian MP Danny Pearson confirmed a number of hotel quarantine workers had elected to not get vaccinated.

He said some Covid Quarantine Victoria workers made the decision to not receive the jab on health grounds but said unvaccinated people were not currently working shifts.

“There will be a small per cent of people who might not be able to work,” Mr Pearson said.

“If you’re not vaccinated you can’t work in a hotel.”

Mr Pearson added he wasn’t yet aware of exactly how many workers had not been vaccinated, but it’s understood more than 50 per cent of CQV staff had already received the Pfizer jab.

“We’re working our way through that … I’m not expecting that it’s going to be a large number,” he said.

“We’ll be working with those individuals to see what (other) opportunities are available.”

SCRAMBLE TO JAB MELBOURNE’S HIGH-RISK SUBURBS

Authorities are scrambling to target the vaccine rollout at high-risk suburbs in Melbourne’s north and west, amid fears too few doses are being delivered to safeguard those communities before ­winter.

Victoria is keen to take a greater role administering the COVID-19 jab across the population.

The Herald Sun can reveal state health officials have been urging the commonwealth to deliver more doses and establish more vaccination sites in the city’s northern and western suburbs, as well as parts of the southeast.

These areas were hard hit during last year’s deadly outbreak because of the age, health outcomes and disadvantage of residents, as well as the high proportion of frontline workers.

The state government has created heat maps on the danger zones, showing where the vaccine doses are needed most, but ministers have been reluctant to raise the problem publicly while they co-operate with the federal government on the rollout.

Anne Hyslop receives an AstraZeneca vaccine from practice nurse Youri Park (L) in Melbourne on April 7

Federal Health Department bureaucrat Lucas de Toca told GPs in a briefing on Thursday that authorities were closely monitoring postcode data to identify pockets of “low access” to the vaccine, and that the commonwealth was in talks with the states to fill those gaps. By the end of this week, there will be 3000 vaccination sites up and running nationwide.

With another 1000 coming online next week, it is understood the federal government is confident of greater coverage across the country.

Victorian authorities want to vaccinate at-risk people as soon as possible, given a new outbreak is likely to be worse during winter.

Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said there was “absolutely” a need to make sure parts of Melbourne hit by previous outbreaks received the jab earlier, and that the state was working with the commonwealth to ­ensure “those equity issues are very much front of mind”.

“There were areas of our state and particularly Melbourne and there were communities that were disproportionately affected,” Prof Cowie said.

“We must absolutely ensure they’ve got the highest levels of access to vaccines as we can ­afford.”

Melbourne’s west was hit hard by the second wave last winter Photo by William WEST / AFP

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had not been aware of a lack of supply in particular areas.

“If there are any areas that there are concerns about, I would be happy to look at them,” he said.

The state government is also ramping up vaccinations at community health hubs and pop-up centres to bolster ­efforts to reach at-risk group.

Originally published as Some quarantine workers rejecting COVID jab