Rise in people getting AstraZeneca jab, Warrnambool GP says

Warrnambool Medical Clinic's Dr Phil Hall said if Pfizer vaccines were available for people under 40 it would be his preference, but given the delays of supply the AstraZeneca vaccine "may be the best option".

"A lot of people have been standing back and waiting for the best thing to come along and now they are realising it might be a while before the best solution comes along. They're realising we have a pretty good option at the moment," Dr Hall said.

"That has been a response to the outbreaks and another lockdown, and that extends well into the teenage group. Even though small, they are aware there are risks and are prepared to embark on that vaccine."

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends a preference for Pfizer for those aged 16 to under 60 years. It estimates very rare blood clots can occur in 2 to 3 per 100,000 people in this age group following the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Nine Victorian government vaccination hubs have opened for 18 to 39-year-olds who give consent to receive the AstraZeneca jab, including at Geelong and Mansfield but not yet in Warrnambool.

COVID response deputy secretary Naomi Bromley said the option was kept to nine sites for now while health authorities monitored demand. "In the not too distant future, we will roll it out to the rest of the system as well," she said.

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell called for the AstraZeneca option for younger people to be expanded to the Warrnambool hub.

"It's a good thing the state government has finally opened up AstraZeneca to younger groups with informed consent, but it's disappointing that Warrnambool has been left off the list of hubs," Ms Britnell said. She said high levels of vaccination were the quickest way out of continued lockdowns.

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