Recent bookings data for state-run clinics revealed AstraZeneca bookings had reduced to a trickle,with 900 people aged between 60 to 69 booked in,while just 276 people over 70 had made appointments.
By comparison,15,000 people aged 50 to 59,and 31,392 of those aged between 40 and 49 years had Pfizer bookings over the same period.
People over 60 will still only be eligible for AstraZeneca if they are vaccinated at a GP or other facility,which falls under the Commonwealth’s vaccination program.
Health Minister Roger Cook said the state expected to see a further reduction in AstraZeneca takeup,but it was up to the Commonwealth to decide what they wanted to do with the extra supplies.
Despite Mr McGowan last week calling forthe vaccine rollout to be rebalanced following months of NSW receiving the lion’s share of extra doses delivered to Australia, WA has “thousands” of extra appointments available in its state-run clinics over the next week.
Mr Cook said advice from the state’s Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson was that the state could open up to over-60s because it had greater confidence in the supply of Pfizer.
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Mr McGowan has also flagged the state was also considering introducing vaccine passports as early as the end of the year.
“It might be[for] flying overseas and might be flying interstate,it may well be going to the football. And we’re working out the details of that. But that’s what all states are doing,” he said.
“I haven’t worked out the exact details,so we can see what happens in those states how it works,how effective it is,what models are the best,and we can pick and choose from those. That will be something that we roll out in future months,but we’re not there yet.”
Those comments came as Crown,one of WA’s biggest employers,also announced it was planning to introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for staff,and requiring visitors to have had the jab if they want to enter one of their venues.
Crown Resorts chief executive Steve McCann said it was consulting employees and the federal government.
“This is about protecting every Australian – we want to create a safe environment for people to come to work,and also for our guests to come to enjoy themselves,” he said.
“As such a significant hospitality employer in Australia,with resorts that hosted over 30 million visits a year pre-COVID,we need to take measures to help keep people safe. That starts with our employees but also extends to our guests and the broader community.”
The federal government will trial vaccine passports for international travel but businesses,states and territories have been toying with the idea of requiring proof of vaccination to do certain activities or enter venues.