'On for young and old': South Australia allows over 60s access to Pfizer vaccine

The older age group is only eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine in most other states and territories.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall speaks to the media during a press conference in Adelaide.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall. Source: AAP

South Australia will make the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination available to all residents aged over 12 years, including those above 60.

Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement less than 24 hours after the Northern Territory confirmed over-60s in the Top End could get the Pfizer jab.
"It's on for young and old," Mr Marshall told reporters on Saturday.

"From Monday, children aged 12 to 15 and people aged 60 and over will be able to book in for Pfizer vaccinations at state-run clinics.

"It's part of our plan to accelerate our pathway out of the pandemic as we add more than 60,000 new appointments from next week."

Forty per cent of South Australians were fully vaccinated, Mr Marshall said.

"We know there have been many people over the age of 60 who said, 'We don't want the AstraZeneca, we want the Pfizer jab, this is why we are not having the jab'," the premier said.

He encouraged South Australians who had already received a first dose of AstraZeneca to get a second AZ shot.

Saturday's vaccination announcement coincided with news of one new COVID-19 case in South Australia.
The "essential worker" is a miner who arrived in Adelaide on a flight from Sydney about 9.30am on Friday.

"There will be people in South Australia who receive an SMS about this (potential) exposure," Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said.

The man travelled on flight VA406 and authorities confirmed he had been in isolation since arriving at the airport.

A mass vaccination clinic at Adelaide Showground this week doubled its capacity, and further pop-up clinics are being rolled out across the state.

Mr Marshall said the state was vaccinating about 100,000 people a week, which would help work towards easing border restrictions in time for Christmas.


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Published 11 September 2021 11:30am
Updated 11 September 2021 2:36pm
Source: AAP, SBS



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