AstraZeneca (09 Apr 2021)

Dear Colleagues

As you may be aware, overnight there has been a change in advice regarding use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged under 50.

Based on the latest information available, the Australian Government has advised that the AstraZeneca vaccine remains a safe and effective vaccine in most cases.

However, due to a low number of adverse reactions that have been reported, it is now recommended that Pfizer will be the preferred vaccination for people aged under 50.

What if I have already received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine?

If you have already received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine it is important to note that reports of these adverse reactions to this vaccine are extremely rare events – its rate varies from 4 to 6 cases per million doses of vaccine given.

Additionally, adverse reactions have only occurred within a small time period of between 4-20 days and only after the first dose.

Although the incidence of these reactions is very rare, it is important to be aware of them and seek medical advice (advising them you have received the AstraZeneca vaccine) if you experience any of the following after your vaccination:

*    neurological symptoms, such as severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision

*    chest pain

*    leg swelling

*    persistent abdominal (belly) pain

*    shortness of breath

*    tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.

If you received your vaccination more than 20 days ago and have not experienced any adverse reaction at this stage, a reaction now is unlikely. Based on this, the advice remains that it is safe to receive your second dose of the vaccine when it is scheduled.

Current advice is the AstraZeneca vaccine remains safe for use in people above the 50 year age group and other groups.

If you would like any further medical advice please talk to your General Practitioner or Health Care Provider.

There has not been an increased risk associated for people outside this age category and there is no changed advice for people in these other age categories.

What does this mean for Tasmania’s vaccine rollout?

Since receiving the advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre have worked through the night to ensure that, continuing today, all vaccinations administered in Tasmanian are done so safely, and in line with the expert medical advice.

Vaccination clinics remain open today and, along with General Practitioners and GP Clinics, we will continue to administer both vaccines in accordance with ATAGI advice.

The impact of this changed advice on the rollout of the vaccination program for Tasmania is unknown at this time and we will be working with the Commonwealth in recalibrating our schedule and reprioritising our Pfizer vaccinations to be delivered to those aged under 50 in our high priority cohorts.

We will continue to make contact with Tasmanians aged under 50 who have received, or are scheduled to receive, their first dose of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.  For those Tasmanians aged 50 and over, the Astra-Zeneca vaccine remains safe and we will continue to administer the vaccine to this group.

It is important that the Community is provided with up to date information based on the advice of the medical experts.  As Tasmania’s State Service we can play a key role in supporting this communication and hence my writing to you all today.

I encourage you to visit www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccine for the latest information on the vaccination roll-out. Additionally, you can visit the Australian Government Health website for further information at www.health.gov.au.

Keeping yourself and others safe.

We must all continue to play our part in being COVID safe. While the vaccine is an important measure in our response to COVID-19, it is part of a suite of things we need to do – including maintaining our COVID-safe behaviours:

• Stay at least 1.5 metres away from others;
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water;
• Stay at home if you are unwell;
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms; and
• Be aware of, and follow, current gathering, business and travel restrictions.

For the latest updates on the COVID-19 restrictions in Tasmania and across Australia, visit  http://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.