Finance Minister says under-40s could get Pfizer jab ‘sooner’ than expected
Speers #Speers
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has been grilled on when Australians younger than 40 will be able to get the Pfizer vaccination.
On Sunday, Mr Birmingham appeared on ABC Insiders and host David Speers questioned the Minister on when younger Australians could expect to get their Covid-19 Pfizer jab.
Currently, Australians aged 16 to 39 need to meet certain criteria to get a Covid-19 vaccine and the Pfizer jab is the recommended immunisation, although they can talk to their GP about getting the AstraZeneca
“Can you clear this up?” Speers asked Mr Birmingham. “When will under-40s be able to access a Pfizer vaccine?”
Mr Birmingham said it would come within months or potentially sooner.
“We will see a marked step up in terms of availability of the Pfizer vaccine – from around 300,000 doses a week up to an average of 600,000 doses a week – and a further increased forecast in September,” he said.
“So, young Australians should have confidence they will see a full opening up (of the vaccine rollout) in the months to come, and that may even be sooner than months.
“But we do have to continue just to make sure we work through the different priority stages of the rollout.”
Mr Speers then pressed him.
“But for someone under 40 watching this today, when will they be able to got
a Pfizer jab? Is it August, September, October? They’ve got to weigh up what to do through winter?”
Mr Birmingham answered: “We will make those decisions working with the health authorities in terms of when to open up in that regard.”
“Just to be clear, there is no (date) for them at the moment?” Mr Speers asked.
“There is not a fixed date that I can give you now,” Mr Birmingham conceded.
Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison caused controversy when he suggested health advice had changed and Australians under the age of 60 could request the AstraZeneca jab.
“Well, if they wish to go and speak to their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so,” he replied.
“The answer is yes, they can go and do that.”
However, Australia‘s Chief Medical Officer was forced to explain the following day.
He made clear the health advice on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine had not changed, only the availability had.
“The change really last night was the decreasing of the age down below 40,” Professor Kelly told News Breakfast.
“That was really the only change that was announced (on Monday night).”