Heaps of young Aussies have already gotten the AstraZeneca vaccine, just one day after it was announced that the jab is now available to us.
Late on Monday night, Scott Morrison announced that all adults, regardless of their age, can now get the AstraZeneca jab through their GP, so long as they are willing to sign an indemnity form.
What that means is you can now just talk to your GP and make an “informed decision” to request getting the AstraZeneca vaccine. If you accept the extremely rare blood clot risk, the GP is protected from any legal action and the jab can be administered to you.
💉Called GP this morning
💉Booked for lunchtime today
💉Quick consult with doc
💉Jab done 3 hours after first call
💉Get amongst it fellow 30-somethings #AstraZeneca— nathan stitt (@nathanjstitt) June 29, 2021
It’s a huge change to the vaccine rollout because, until now, the AstraZeneca vaccine (which is locally produced) had been recommended for people over 60, while young people were supposed to wait for the imported Pfizer vaccine – and the wait line was *long*.
But seeing as four cities are under lockdown in a COVID resurgence that feels painstakingly similar to March 2020, it seems the government has finally decided to make vaccines more accessible to those willing to accept the (small) risks and get jabbed already.
“And so if you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP and we’ve already made announcements to support those additional consultations with GPs so you can have that conversation,” Morrison told reporters on Monday night.
Young Aussies have wasted no time in taking advantage of the new scheme, with heaps of people already getting the jab less than 24 hours after it became available to us.
I feel safer already! Super easy booking my AstraZeneca vaccine today. Explained to GP I (gratefully) don’t have underlying health conditions, GP was super clear on the side effects and what to look out for, and I’m happy to do my part! 💉
First dose: ☑️
Second dose: Booked! pic.twitter.com/UY2wfXz1H3— Clare Armstrong (@ByClare) June 29, 2021
Heaps of people have taken to Twitter to share shots (pun not intended?) of themselves after getting the jab, urging others to do so.
Fluff on my mask, tears in my eyes and a COVID VACCINE IN MY ARM. It’s been a long 18 months and this feels momentous. #AstraZeneca pic.twitter.com/xfYLUJIfy8
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) June 29, 2021
The tweets come as frustration grows from Aussies about how underprepared and complacent Australia has become regarding COVID-19. We still don’t have dedicated quarantine centres, we only ordered enough vaccines for 4% of the population, and Scott Morrison clearly did not feel the urgency that a pandemic should bestow as the Government claimed getting jabbed was ‘not a race.’
I don’t have a GP of my own in Canberra. I just Googled “GP near me” and called the first number that came up. Was able to instantly book an AstraZeneca vaccine appointment for 11am tomorrow. Go on, go out and get one, fellow youths – I’m stoked
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) June 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/joshgnosis/status/1409666225299333125?s=21
But hey, even if the Government is unproductive, that doesn’t mean Aussies have to be – proven by all the Under 40s getting the AstraZeneca jab the moment it became a possibility.
Thanks for help and inspiration Clare – booked into same joint in Canberra tomorrow!
— Richie Merzian (@RichieMerzian) June 29, 2021
