Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has flashed his tattoos while he received the AstraZeneca jab on Wednesday morning.
He was one of the first patients to arrive at one of Victoria’s mass COVID-19 vaccination centres – the Royal Exhibition Building – for their AstraZeneca vaccine as authorities move to speed up the delayed rollout.
The centre at Carlton Gardens opened to Victorians aged 70 and older, or those who had a medical condition or disability which placed them in the phase 1b group.
Professor Sutton quashed fears about blood clots arising from the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying it was delivered up to the “highest safety standard”.
“The risk of really serious adverse events is rare, which is why I’m getting my vaccination,” he wrote on Twitter leading up to his appointment.
“The best vaccine to get is the one available right now.”
Mr Sutton said while the Pfizer jab was recommended for under-50s, AstraZeneca would still be available for younger Australians who wanted it.
“For over 50s, it’s either vaccine and obviously the AstraZeneca vaccine is the one that is available in pretty good numbers at the moment,” he told 3AW Breakfast on Wednesday morning.
“It’s about the risk-benefit. The risk of serious illness (from COVID-19) is lower, the younger you get.”
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