On 17/6/21 the Australian Government received updated advice from the expert vaccine body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) about the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The experts at ATAGI updated their advice to recommend the Pfizer vaccine be preferred for adults aged 59 and under.
This updated advice is based on new evidence demonstrating a slightly higher risk for the very rare blood-clotting thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)condition in the 50-59 year-old age group.
AstraZeneca remains recommended for those aged 60 and over based on the much higher risk of illness and death from COVID-19 in this age group, and the lower risk of this condition.
The ATAGI advice supports the completion of a two-dose schedule with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, based on current evidence. The risk of complications following a second dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is much lower than the risk following a first dose.
People of any age without contraindications who have had their first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca without any serious adverse events should receive a second dose of the same vaccine.
At this stage, FBMC and LMC do not have a supply of the Pfizer vaccination but this may change - please keep an eye on our website or call us to check (Mid-late July is recommended). We will update our website as soon as we have more information.
In the meantime, NSW Health vaccination clinics are the only source of the Pfizer vaccine.
Those aged 40-59 years are now eligible to book an appointment to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. To book an appointment at a location near you, visit the Australian Government eligibility checker
The full ATAGI statement is available to view online...
Flynns Beach and Lachlan Medical Centres support the COVID SAFE APP. We would like to encourage you to download the COVID SAFE APP to help keep our community safe. The COVID SAFE App speeds up contacting people exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
