In a report, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisationsaid in April that Pfizer was the preferred vaccine for under-50s and then in June they changed it so that it would apply only to those under 60 years old. In order to better understand this, keep these things in mind when you read ATAGI’s advice on AstraZeneca:
- ATAGI’s advice relied on the assumption that there will be a low amount of COVID circulating in the community. However, this emphasis on low prevalence ignores the fact that we’re protecting ourselves not just against current risk, but also risk further down the line.
- Another implicit assumption in ATAGI’s advice is that it is possible to get Pfizer and that you can get it right away. Nonetheless, given the limited supply of Pfizer vaccine, many have decided to hold off on making a decision about whether or not to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca vaccine or not get vaccinated at all.
- The ATAGI is concerned primarily with the benefits of vaccination in preventing severe disease. Nevertheless, there are other reasons why people choose to get vaccinated, such as protecting the community they are a part of or traveling freely.
ATAGI (the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) is an organization that provides advice and information to help people make informed decisions about immunization. Although ATAGI is primarily focused on national immunization programs, they also advise on clinical trials and broader public health issues related to immunization.
The decision to get the AstraZeneca vaccine is complex, but ultimately you will have to make the final decision for yourself if you are under 60 years old. The AstraZeneva vaccine carries a very small risk of blood clotting, but this risk appears minor when compared to the odds of becoming infected.
