Practice nurse at the Vincentia Medical Centre Annette Pham said people are concerned about contracting blood clots from the AstraZeneca.

"Our message to the people over the age of 50 on the South Coast is to be informed of the risks, but put those risks into perspective and to not be afraid of getting vaccinated against COVID-19," said Mrs Pham.

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Australia has had three confirmed cases of blood clotting - thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TSS) - out of more than 855,000 doses of AstraZeneca.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advised on March 25 2021 that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be used for adults aged under 50.

This recommendation is based on the increasing risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 in older adults (and hence a higher benefit from vaccination) and a potentially increased risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following AstraZeneca vaccine in those under 50 years.

AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 50 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual.

Mrs Pham said those in the phase 1b rollout, which include people over 75, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, and those with disabilities, are expressing concerns over blood clots, and that the statistics must be put into perspective.

"The current risk of blood clots from the (AstraZeneca) vaccine is one per 295,000," she said.

"They are not bad odds when you compare it to some of the everyday medications that people are taking. We're trying to get it into perspective for people that the risk of blood clots is so small.

"Young people who take the pill or who smoke are at a much higher risk of blood clots. It's been blown totally out of proportion."

Mrs Pham believes these concerns are leading to less people booking in for their appointments.

"We've done just over 2,000 vaccines and we're doing really well, up until two weeks ago. Three of our practices are still booked out at 100 per cent capacity but our larger medical centre in Worrigee, which has the most doses, has dropped in people booking by at least 50 per cent.

"People are nervous and are concerned about getting a blood clot. But if you've never had a pre-existing illness, or if you've previously had a clot, it doesn't make any difference.

"It's a perfectly safe vaccine to have."

"The risk to benefit ratio for people over the age of 50 who have chronic medical conditions and having the AstraZeneca vaccine is clearly in their favour. There is significant risk to any unvaccinated Australians contracting COVID and having serious complications including death and clots from COVID."

If people feel apprehensive, Mrs Pham advises the best thing to do "is to speak to your doctor."

"Only receive your information from an official source. Do not start googling and finding things on social media," she said.

"I had someone come in yesterday telling me that their neighbour told them to not come in because it was going to alter their DNA so the government could track us. I don't know where people are getting this kind of silly information from."

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