Shots for over50s

Canberra: Australians over the age of 50 will be able to get the AstraZeneca vaccine from next month as the nation’s leaders reset the Covid19 jab rollout.

The Pfizer jab will be restricted to Australians under that age, except for highrisk groups such as aged and disability care residents and workers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday chaired a Cabinet meeting where Australia’s leaders agreed on a rejig of the rollout after the AstraZeneca jab was linked to rare blood clots, and was not recommended to Australians under 50.

In order to ramp up the rollout, Australians over50 can get the AstraZeneca jab at state and territory facilities and GP respiratory clinics from May 3, before all GP clinics have them from May 17.

Nearly 1.8 million Australians have now been vaccinated, about 60,000 doses administered each day.