Medical exemption process – 60yrs and above accessing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

Please see below, advice from the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) on the medical exemption process for patients aged 60 and above.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised that the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine is preferred in people aged 60 years and over.

There are some reasons that people aged 60 years and over should not have the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine. These are:

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST)
Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Idiopathic splanchnic (mesenteric, portal or splenic) venous thrombosis
Anti-phospholipid syndrome with thrombosis
Anaphylaxis, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia or other serious adverse event attributed to the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
History of anaphylaxis to a component of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

If any of these conditions apply to you, CLICK HERE for the exemption form.

NSW Health encourages patients to access the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine though a GP or NSW Health vaccination clinic if these conditions do not apply to them.

ATAGI advises that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can be given to people with a history of other types of blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE), or have other risk factors for blood clots. For more information, please read the advice for people who have had blood clots in the past.

If you fit one of the above criteria you are welcome to discuss a possible exemption with your GP