Vaccinate now or later: A tough decision for older Aussies
Older Australians face a “really tough” decision about whether they should get the AstraZeneca vaccine, as one expert says they must make a trade-off between individual and community benefits.
With a link established between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the occurrence of rare but serious blood clots, many people over 50 are hesitant to get vaccinated as the AstraZeneca vaccine is rolled out to the over 50s community.
But, Dr Ian Gemmell, Australian medical director of one of the UK’s large vaccination centres, told the Sydney Morning Herald that experts are still recommending that anyone aged 50 or over get the jab as the risk of this side effect - or any serious complications - is “infinitesimally small” for this age group.
About six in every million people who receive the AstraZeneca vaccine develop blood clots, and the side effect tends to affect more people under 50.
Dr Gemmell, whose hospital was overrun with COVID-19 cases during England’s winter, believes Australians should embrace vaccinations ahead of a potential resurgence of the disease in winter.
“If people delay getting their vaccination or choose not to have it because they don’t consider it an issue, it is going to come back and bite you on the backside,” he said.
Though the risk of a potential outbreak is higher in winter, Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely believes there is only “a remote chance” of a full-blown outbreak with lockdowns halting the spread.
But, he said the risk means those who are unvaccinated - or have not had their first dose at least - would be vulnerable, and believes that getting vaccinated is the right thing to do.
“I think the best decision is to get the AstraZeneca vaccine now,” he said.
The 54-year-old has himself weighed up the risk of getting the vaccine and said if all over 50s get vaccinated, Australia could potentially open up to international travel sooner than if a lot of people waited.
“It’s a really interesting trade-off between individual risk versus herd immunity,” he said.
The community benefit of opening Australia up next year was being balanced against a “small individual benefit” for over 50s waiting - as long as there is not another community outbreak.
“As an individual of 50 years plus - I am 54 years old - I could make a decision not to get AstraZeneca, and wait for Moderna and Pfizer to be available for people over 50,” he said.
“At an individual level I’m allowed, and you could argue that it’s a rational decision because of concerns about clotting, and because you know that another vaccine will be available in five, six or eight months that is a lower risk.
“The downside of that is if a lot of people over 50 do that and this delays Australia opening up.”
Since it takes three and a half months to get the maximum level of protection from the vaccine, Associate Professor Margie Danchin at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute told news.com.au that people can’t change their minds overnight and expect to be protected.
Because of a 12-week wait between the first and second dose and a two-week wait before the body produces the maximum immune response after both jabs, Associate Professor Danchihn said now is a good time to get the vaccine before the borders reopen.
The blood-clotting issue is also more well-known, meaning that most cases are being picked up and treated early by health professionals.
Of the seven most recent cases, six are home and well and only one is still in hospital.