AstraZeneca rollout setback expected to top National Cabinet agenda

The shift in Australia’s vaccine rollout following revised AstraZeneca advice will top the National Cabinet agenda today when state leaders meet for the first time in five weeks. State leaders already frustrated by the glacial pace of the rollout are expected to discuss further delays flagged by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in a late night press conference yesterday where he announced the change in health advice. The premiers’ push to ramp up the speed of the rollout stems from the fact opening up the nation and keeping state borders open largely hinges on the success of the country’s inoculation program. The Pfizer vaccine is now the preferred jab for Australians aged under 50 following concerns about the AstraZeneca vaccine being linked to blood clots. A small number of people have developed blood clots after receiving their first dose of the vaccine – a condition health officials say affect four in every six million doses. Concerns were raised over the level of risk due to Australia’s relatively low COVID threat and the susceptibility of younger Australians to the AstraZeneca jab. The prime minister said the decision was made out of the abundance of caution, and acknowledged it will delay the national rollout program in some form. “Ultimately here, the choice is with individual Australians and their doctor,” Mr Morrison said. “The advice here today is not to not have the AstraZeneca vaccine, there is not a prohibition of the AstraZeneca vaccine for persons under 50, there is an expression of a preference.”