Ballarat's younger residents are being reminded they might be able to get vaccinated with the AstraZeneca shot, even if they are not eligible for the Pfizer vaccine under the federal government's rollout.
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People under the age of 40 can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine through the UFS vaccination clinic on Dana Street with bookings widely available.
While those that have already tried to book online may have hit a roadblock of not being able to book their first vaccination, UFS said it was a system error and bookings could still be made over the phone.
While Pfizer is the recommended vaccine for people under 40, people can consent to receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine was initially restricted to those over 60 due to the risk of blood clotting in two out of every 100,000 first doses. The blood clotting symptoms are rarer in second doses at just 1.5 per one million second doses.
According to the federal health department, people aged 40-49 stand the most risk of the blood clotting side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine at five cases per 100,000 doses, followed by 50-59 at 2.7 cases per 100,000.
Those aged between 18 and 39 have a significantly reduced risk at less than two cases per 100,000 doses, comparable with those aged 60 and older.
However, the department says the blood clotting side effects are more likely in younger adults than older adults and appear to be more severe.
UFS primary care operations manager Danielle Trezise said there were risks with every medication and vaccine.
"That's why we encourage people, if they're concerned about that, to just have a discussion with their doctor, which is what they would do for any new medication or vaccine," she said.
"We're just following the guidelines put out by the Commonwealth that say people can get it but they need to weigh up the risks versus the benefits. We don't want to deny anybody a vaccine if they really want to get it.
"There are risks with any medication or vaccine that people take so they just need to weigh up the potential benefits for them versus what the risks might be."
Ms Trezise said the AstraZeneca vaccine was widely available but bookings were still required.
"We have appointments available probably today and we have plenty of stock of the AstraZeneca vaccine," she said.
"If you look at the federal government, they're talking about increased supply of Pfizer so that everyone can get it isn't likely to happen until September, October or November, so there's not a guaranteed supply of that because they're importing it.
"If people are really keen to get vaccinated, then they can have AstraZeneca now and it's made in Australia so there's not the same supply issues with it."
To book a first dose of either vaccine, call 4320 0891. For other bookings, visit www.ufs.com.au/vaccine.