As of today, the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be available at state-run clinics including General Practice Respiratory Clinics and mass vaccination clinics to all Australians aged 50 or older.

However, Australians over 50 wanting to receive the vaccine at their local GP clinic will have to wait until 17 May for an appointment.

Last month National Cabinet agreed to fast-track the rollout for the age group to allow almost 6 million Australians not yet vaccinated in the 50 to 69-year-old cohort of phase 2a of the rollout to be vaccinated.

The AstraZeneca shot is still preferred for Australians over the age of 50, despite the Therapeutic Goods Association changing their advice to recommend the Pfizer shot for people under 50 because of reports of rare blood clots.

Photo: Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by bratislavskysamospravnykraj available HERE used under a Creative Commons Attribution. The image has not been modified.