Patients 18-39 Are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Today the commonwealth government increased the range of people who can access COVID-19 vaccination. This especially affects those in the 18-40 year old age group who would have had to wait some months before they would have accessed vaccination.
The following are extracts from the government COVID-19 vaccine announcement:
“The medical advice on which vaccine to get – Pfizer or AstraZeneca – has not changed. The Pfizer vaccine remains the preferred vaccine for people under 60. However, under new arrangements, access to the AstraZeneca vaccine is being expanded to adults under 40 – provided they give informed consent.
This means people aged 18 to 39 – who are not otherwise eligible – can choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine after the appropriate individual risk-benefit analysis and consent process. Health providers should only vaccinate patients with AstraZeneca without a contraindication and if the person gives fully informed consent, noting they will be able to access Pfizer later in the year.
AstraZeneca is highly effective in protecting people against the serious health effects of COVID-19 – including death. It is locally produced and readily available in Australia. Currently we have adequate supplies of AstraZeneca to vaccinate all eligible people.
Making AstraZeneca available to a wider section of the population will give informed younger people the option to be vaccinated as Australia enters this next critical stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Practitioners should continue to advise people on the preferred vaccine for their age – AstraZeneca for over 60s, and Pfizer for under 60s.”
How will this work at HHMP
- HHMP will offer vaccination to patients between the age of 18 and 39.
- Our staff will explain to patients their vaccination options.
- Those who give informed consent can then go ahead to be vaccinated.
- More information is available on our vaccination clinic page.
- Bookings can be made online via the BOOK NOW button or by phone 02 9817 2080.
