The Pfizer Vaccine Will Soon Be Available To All Young People, Here’s What You Need To Know
Scott Morrison announced the decision in a press conference a short time ago.
In great news for young people, all 16 to 39-year-olds in Australia will finally be able to access the Pfizer vaccine from Monday 30 August.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement in today’s press conference. Eligibility would be streamlined across the country so all under-40s can book Pfizer from 30 August. But Morrison warned that bookings had not yet opened up. “It isn’t today. Not today,” he said. “We will advise when the time will come over the course of the next week,” he assured.
He said that while he is usually pressed about 20 to 39-year-olds, “we decided to go all the way through the 16-year-olds to 39-year-olds, some 8.6 million Australians in the group,” he said.
Morrison explained his government is also waiting on the interim ATAGI advice for vaccinating people 12 to 15, and they are taking it “very seriously”, understandably so with the absolute shit-show surrounding whether young people could take AstraZeneca. (Gentle reminder that many young people have had the AstraZeneca vaccine, and it’s easier to access. Book in now if you can.)
The news more-or-less lines up with Morrison’s promise that young people would be able to get vaccinated with the ATAGI-recommended Pfizer in September, maybe October. Okay, so it’s earlier than expected (by a day if you count it on the September promise). But bravo, early marks for everyone.
Of course, young people have been desperate to get vaccinated, while one in four Boomers have been waiting for a better vaccine, according to ABS data.
just because you are eligible for pfizer on august 30, does not mean you will be able to find a pfizer appointment on august 30
you can find an astrazeneca appointment today https://t.co/llF2klKhaC
— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) August 19, 2021
A journalist in the press conference questioned whether the ability to book these Pfizer appointments was being delayed due to fear of people cancelling their AstraZeneca vaccine appointments. Morrison responded, “the best vaccine you can get, is the one you can get right now”, and urged people not to cancel their AZ appointments.
In other lovely news, one in two people eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 have had their first dose [cue rap horns]. Oh, also, vaccine hesitancy is down. Finally some good news is trickling in.