Australia restricts AstraZeneca vaccine over clotting concerns

Australian Health Minister, Greg Hunt stated that concerns over possible links to blood clots meant Pfizer was now the preferred vaccine for everyone under 60 years old.

The decision is a fresh blow to the country's glacial vaccine rollout.

The move is likely to have a marginal impact, as responsibility for inoculations has largely fallen to Australian states.

The restriction came after a 52-year old woman died of blood clotting after receiving the jab.

Reportedly, only 3% of Australia population is fully vaccinated.

The health minister, however, admitted that the move would challenge country's already badly stalled vaccine rollout.

The country has invested heavily in the AstraZeneca vaccine, producing fifty million doses locally.

Purchases of other COVID shots have been more limited and encountered multiple delays, forcing the government to abandon its target of immunizing all adults by September 2021.

The new measures are likely to stay in place until a large number of adults are vaccinated.

In the meantime the virus has repeatedly jumped from hotel quarantine facilities into the community, sparking lockdowns and costly restrictions. Several venues around the famed Bondi beach have been labelled potential COVID-19 hotspots.

Sydney is on high alert after a cluster of three cases linked to a foreign air crew shuttle driver emerged.