Chief health officer Brett Sutton announced the change in his daily Covid-19 update on Saturday, and said it would help give more Victorians some level of protection against the virus.Previously, Victorians were able to receive their second Pfizer dose after at least three weeks at state-run hubs.Professor Sutton said the change was consistent with Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) guidelines.“This allows more Victorians to receive their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in the coming weeks,” he said in a statement.“More first dose bookings will become available in the system in three to four weeks as a result of this change.”Professor Sutton said there was no change to people who already had their second Pfizer dose booked and they should attend their appointment as planned.“The guidelines recommend that the second dose of Pfizer should be administered between three and six weeks after the first dose to achieve optimal protection against Covid-19,” he said.“ATAGI has also advised that dosing intervals can be safely adjusted according to epidemiological conditions and other factors. “Other countries are safely and effectively using longer Pfizer intervals, including the UK and Canada, to allow more people to get a first dose sooner.”Professor Sutton said there was no change to the interval for the AstraZeneca vaccine.Commonwealth vaccination providers, such as GPs and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, will continue to provide second doses at an interval of three weeks.Almost 42 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older have received at least one dose, while 19 per cent are fully vaccinated.jack.paynter@news.com.au
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