Chief Health Officer statement: AstraZeneca vaccine

I want to give Western Australians reassurance about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccination program and AstraZeneca.

Australia is using the advice and guidance of medical experts to ensure a safe and effective program delivery.

Vaccination is the most effective way to protect against infectious diseases, and the COVID-19 vaccination has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia.

Getting yourself vaccinated against COVID-19, when you are eligible, will give you the best protection from serious illness associated with the virus, and will help to protect the whole community. When enough people in the community are vaccinated, it slows down the spread of disease.

Following a case of thrombosis in a person who had been vaccinated, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) met yesterday. There has been no change to its advice on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine at this time.

ATAGI and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) are continuing to work with international experts and regulators to provide advice on the optimal use of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

ATAGI has publicly released its advice for consumers on a specific clotting condition being reported after COVID-19 vaccination (external site) and vaccination and a reported case of thrombosis (external site).

Today Chief Health Officers from all Australian jurisdictions met for an Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) meeting. The AHPPC supports the ATAGI decision.

Both ATAGI and the TGA will continue to monitor the situation closely and would like to remind anyone receiving a vaccination, that these instances are rare and have occurred in a very small number of cases.

I ask Western Australians to listen to the health advice and please get vaccinated when you become eligible. It is your best protection against the virus.

Dr Andrew Robertson
Chief Health Officer

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