Tamworth AstraZeneca vaccine roll out: changes announced for roll out across state

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced AstraZeneca was no longer recommended for under-50s because of an extremely rare but serious blood clot side effect, on advice from health officials.

Now, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said over-50s have resumed their doses, but those under 50 won't be able to get the jab until Monday.

"The only reason we took a pause this morning was to update all of our clinicians and workers to make sure they had the latest advice which came out very late yesterday evening," she said on Friday afternoon.

"As of a few hours ago, everybody over 50 years of age is continuing to receive the vaccine in NSW and from Monday those under 50 who choose to have the vaccine can do so with an informed consent.

"That paperwork and advice will depend on the Commonwealth information which will be updated I understand today and over the weekend."

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Staff aged under 50 years at Tamara Private Hospital in Tamworth who haven't received their first dose of the vaccine have been told not to book in.

"If you have had your first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious side effects, please proceed with your second dose," Ramsay Health Care told staff.

"The AstraZeneca vaccine is still recommended for those aged over 50. People in this age group are not impacted by last night's announcement.

"This decision does not impact administration of the Pfizer vaccine. If you are offered the Pfizer vaccine, please proceed with receiving your first and second doses."

The information form distributed to those receiving the jab will now be updated to include the blood-clotting risks.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said it was anticipated this form would be updated by close-of-business on Friday.

Ms Berejiklian said health experts confirmed that the AstraZeneca jab was still "safe".

"There is that rare condition that happens and it is there but it's a very low risk, and the best advice we have is people over the age of 50 should feel confident getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and those under 50 can assess the risk themselves and make that decision," she said.

"The chances of you getting an adverse reaction are there but are very low."

Hunter New England Health declined to comment on the issue.

Intensive Care Unit clinical nurse educator Jeremy Deasey was the first frontline worker at Tamworth hospital to receive the jab on March 30.

Prior to this, local resident Barry Bonarius was the first person in Tamworth to receive the jab after a trip to the doctors coincided with the delivery of the AstraZeneca doses.

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