The Department of Health has issued a provider alert addressing recent advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not the preferred option for people under the age of 50.

Main points:

• "The Pfizer vaccine will now be available for people with disability, carers and workers aged between 18 and 50 years old, including people eligible under phase 1a and phase 1b of the vaccine rollout."
• The rollout schedule will be impacted
• People who have had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without serious side effects can safely receive the second dose
• More information will follow ASAP

Members are also reminded to check the NDS COVID-19 hub, including the vaccine page where links to Health Department and other authoritative sources of information are maintained.