BALLARAT Health Services is urging anyone aged under-40 keen to receive the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine to still speak directly to their general practitioner.
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This comes with GP clinics in Ballarat reported a spike in patient queries on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the call that AstraZeneca would be available to all willing and informed Australian adults.
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A BHS spokesperson said this was a welcome news but, as yet, AstraZeneca would not be available to under-40s from the city's mass vaccination hub
BHS, which runs the mass vaccination clinic at the Mercure, remains awaiting further direction from the Victorian Health Department on whether the prime minister's announcement would extend to state-supplied centres.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged on Monday he would consider broadening the AstraZeneca roll-out to state centres if extra vaccine supplies were made available.
Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid is urging people to follow the expert advice and have the recommended vaccine when it is available.
Prime Minister Morrison's decision shocked the AMA and contradicted official advice from Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. ATAGI has recommended AstraZeneca only be made available to people aged over 60, with Pfizer to be given to all other adults.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt insists health advice for the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has not changed, despite phones ringing off the hook at GP clinics nationwide.
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Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Karen Price said doctors were still trying to understand the changes.She believes most doctors will follow expert medical advice to not give the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 60.
"If people are still insistent that they want to have AstraZeneca, then it's up to the doctor and patient to work out how they feel about that," Dr Price said.
"Generally the younger you are, the less likely anyone is going to proceed with that."
The BHS-run hub is the only place for the general population to receive a Pfizer vaccine in Ballarat.
BHS urges anyone in the community who is eligible to receive a COVID vaccine to roll up their sleeve as soon as they are able, and to get vaccinated.
The hub remains only accepting AstraZeneca walk-ups for people aged 60-plus, according to the latest information from the health service.
Anyone aged 50 to 60 who has received their first AstraZeneca dose without serious side effects can receive their second shot. Those aged 50-60 and anyone who is eligible for a vaccine aged under-40 are offered Pfizer jabs. All Pfizer vaccines must be pre-booked.
For more details on eligibility and who can attend the BHS vaccination clinic at the Mercure, visit bhs.org.au/vaccine.
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