Australia's vaccine rollout was slow and chaotic. Health advisors and government leaders have sent mixed messages. According to the country's most respected professional body for doctors, it recommends that people follow advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group of Immunisation when deciding which Covid vaccine they should take. ATAGI provides advice to the Australian health minister regarding vaccine issues in Australia. Omar Khorshid (president of the Australian Medical Association) said that while we recommend following expert advice, the final decision is up to the individual. Despite Australia's relative success in controlling infections, there are still some vaccine shortages. Only the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech shots are currently approved. Both require two doses to be fully immunized. Mixed messages from ATAGI and the Australian government have created confusion and hesitancy over the safety of the vaccines.What do experts say?ATAGI recommends that anyone between 16 and 59 should get Pfizer shots. However, the government suggests that those over 60 can choose to have AstraZeneca after speaking with their doctors. The country is short of Pfizer shots and it is possible that the bulk of the doses will arrive in the third quarter. After data revealed that there was a higher risk and severity of a rare blood clotting disorder called thrombosis or thrombocytopenia syndrome, which is a result of the AstraZeneca vaccinations being used in Australians in their 50s, the advisory group recommended it.On June 24, 2021, people waited in line outside a Sydney vaccination center. This was to stop the spread of highly contagious Delta Covid-19 variant to other parts of Australia. AFPThe group stated that the benefits of AstraZeneca for those over 60 years old outweigh the risk of developing blood clots.What is the government saying?Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister, stated Monday that anyone under 60 can receive the AstraZeneca vaccination if they wish, provided they discuss it with their doctors. He said that the country will create a new "no-fault indemnity" scheme for general practitioners who provide Covid-19 vaccines."ATAGI advises that AstraZeneca should be made available and available to people who are more likely to choose it over other vaccines. Morrison stated that the advice does not prohibit anyone under 60 from receiving the AstraZeneca vaccination. According to an official transcript, he spoke at his press conference. He said, "So if your goal is to receive the AstraZeneca vaccination, then we encourage you to... talk to your GP."Progress in vaccine developmentKhorshid, from the Australian Medical Association, stated that the vaccine rollout is moving along relatively smoothly despite all the political messaging and tactics. Khorshid stated that approximately two-thirds (or more) of Australia's most vulnerable have received at least one dose. They are scheduled to receive their second doses. Statistics compiled by "Our World in Data", however, showed that just 23% of the population had received at least one dose and that only 6% of them have been fully inoculated.Aerial view of Sixty Martin Place in Sydney, Australia. View Pictures
