Victoria’s lockdown has sparked a rush of Sunshine Coast people getting vaccinated after many over 50s had initially become complacent and chosen to hold off.
Sunshine Coast Local Medical Association president Dr Roger Faint said deliveries of doses to the Coast had also gained momentum, with GP clinics receiving triple the number.
For example clinics that were receiving 50 doses per week were now getting 150.
Dr Faint said many over 50s who had initially planned to hold off from receiving AstraZeneca in the hope Pfizer would become available to them had now decided to get the jab.
“There was a slowness before Melbourne because people thought they would hold off for a few months thinking they might be able to get Pfizer because they were concerned about blood clots with AstraZeneca,” said Dr Faint.
“But suddenly the urgency has crept back in and suddenly the clinics is full again.”
Dr Faint said some over 50s had been comparing the risks of AstraZeneca versus Pfizer instead of making a comparison between getting vaccinated and contracting the coronavirus.
Over 50s are not eligible for Pfizer and must book in for the AstraZeneca jab, but many had been holding out hope that Pfizer might become available in the future.
Dr Faint called on all those who were eligible for vaccinations in the current rounds not to waste time and to get online and make a booking.
“There really are risks with contracting COVID and really all you need is one state to get out of control,” he said.
“We can’t keep going into lockdown for the next two years which is how long it would take to get herd immunity at the current rate (of the rollout) that’s why we really need to get moving along.”
The rollout was recently extended to include those aged 40 to 49 who Dr Faint said would be receiving the Pfizer jab, as recommended because of the risk of blood clots, through the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.
Over 50s can receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at their GP while priority groups 1a and 1b get Pfizer.
Meanwhile Health Minister Greg Hunt has pushed back against claims some people were waiting to get vaccinated because the federal government had given them the impression there was no rush.
“That’s false, that’s not something I’ve ever said,” he said.
However, the prime minister has commented on many occasions the vaccine rollout was not a race.
And Mr Hunt last week suggested older Australians concerned about the AstraZeneca jab could wait until the end of the year to receive alternative vaccines instead.
He later backtracked on the comments because they were seen as encouraging vaccine hesitancy.
Mr Hunt has fiercely defended Australia’s sluggish vaccine rollout, with the federal government under fire over the Victorian lockdown.
He Hunt described the vaccine program as an “extraordinary achievement” even though only a fraction of the population have received their jabs.
Mr Hunt said Australia was on track to pass four million vaccinations, equivalent to 20 per cent of the adult population.
But only 500,000 people – about two per cent of the population – have been fully vaccinated with two doses.
Australia was meant to reach the four million jab milestone in March.
Many aged care residents are still waiting for their first jab, despite being included in the highest priority group.
-with AAP
