COVID-19 Vaccines Update (17 Jun 2021)

Dear Colleagues,

I write to you today to emphasise the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination to Tasmania and to provide you with an update as we work together to recover from the pandemic.

Today, I can provide new information about the vaccine rollout for our State. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has today made a recommendation to the Australian Government that the Pfizer vaccine is now preferred over the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine for people aged 50 to 59 years old.

ATAGI has recommended that AZ is no longer used to vaccinate people aged between 50-59. This is because of continual monitoring of the rare blood clotting disease in this age bracket. It is a highly precautionary move and it is so important to remember that AZ is still considered a very effective vaccine.

The Commonwealth Government is bringing a significant number of additional General Practitioners online to provide the Pfizer vaccine from 5 July.

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

If you have already received a first dose of the AZ vaccine, ATAGI strongly recommends that you should continue to have the second dose of AZ as well.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has not approved mixing of vaccines and will consider this matter in the future.

Aged care and disability cohorts are unaffected by this update as the Pfizer vaccine is used for these cohorts already.

What if I am already scheduled to receive AstraZeneca vaccine?

We will make contact over the next few days with Tasmanians aged between 50-59 who are scheduled to receive their first dose of AZ to re-book for the Pfizer vaccine.

We will be working with the Commonwealth in recalibrating Tasmania’s vaccination schedule and reprioritising our Pfizer vaccinations to be delivered to those people aged between 50-59 for their first dose.

40-49 age group cohort

I would also like to take this opportunity to advise, for any of you that are unaware, that the current phase of the vaccine rollout now includes people aged between 40-49.

If you are within this cohort, I encourage you to book in for your vaccination.

The importance of staying informed and safe

It is important that the community is provided with up to date information based on the advice of medical experts.

Everyone in Tasmania will have the opportunity to get a free COVID-19 vaccine this year.  Getting the vaccine when it is available to you will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 as well as enable us all to live our everyday lives more freely.

We all continue to have a key role to play in being COVID safe. While the vaccine rollout is an incredibly important measure in our response, it does not replace the suite of things we all need to continue to do for the safety of ourselves and others:

• 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 further details on the latest news and statistics about the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Tasmania please visit http://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccine.