LATEST ADVICE ON VACCINES
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* Pfizer recommended for people aged 16 to 60
* AstraZeneca recommended for people aged over 60
* Age ranges based on relative risk between getting the AstraZeneca vaccine and developing blood clots known as thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS)
* Official expert medical advice does not stop someone under 60 from getting AstraZeneca jab if they want
* GPs can provide AstraZeneca to adults under 60 if Pfizer is not available, the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that person, and they make an informed choice
* Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who has had Pfizer, says no one under 60 should get AstraZeneca
* West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says people under 40 should not get AstraZeneca
* NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has had two doses of AstraZeneca, says people should decide based on advice from their GP
* Prime Minister Scott Morrison says people should follow their GP's advice
* His government has provided GPs with a no-fault indemnity scheme and offered people Medicare cover for vaccine consultations
* Thousands of people under 60 have followed the PM's advice and booked in for AstraZeneca jabs with their GP
WHAT IS THE RISK FOR UNDER 60s?
* For 18-29s, the risk of a TTS blood clot is 1.9 per 100,000 AstraZeneca jabs
* For 30-39s, it is 1.6/100,000
* For 40-49s, it is 5/100,000
* For 50-59s it is 2.7/100,000
WHAT ARE THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF COVID-19 VACCINATION?
* Common side effects of vaccination include fatigue, headache, body aches and fever
* Severity of illness due to TTS (which has affected 64 Australians so far) ranges from mild blood clotting to fatal cases
* Half of TTS cases in Australia have been discharged from hospital
* One in four have been more serious and required treatment in intensive care, and two people have died
Australian Associated Press
