In the wake of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) reviewing the age for the AstraZeneca dose, Bendigo Primary Care Centre clinical director Sheriden Emonson said there had been questions raised about the vaccine.

"We are coming up against vaccine hesitancy everyday," she said. "At a guess, I would say 50 per cent of the patients I see over the course of a day want to talk about the vaccine and what it means for them.

"However, we have not seen a significant number of patient cancellations for COVID vaccines despite newly updated guidelines for administration of AstraZeneca COVID vaccine. It's heartening to see that our patients want to protect themselves and the community."

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At 44, Dr Emonson falls below the ATAGI recommended age for AstraZeneca. But she received her first dose 12 weeks ago before the change and had no major adverse reaction to the vaccine.

"The Department of Health states that if you received your first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and did not experience abnormal side effects, ATAGI recommends you still receive your second AstraZeneca dose and that's what I'm doing," she said.

"We have to remember, we need to weigh up the potential risks of a vaccine versus potential risk of COVID-19 outbreak in our community. We want to be protected against the coronavirus."

Dr Emonson was not deterred by the health advice and encouraged others to look at all the facts and make the right choice for themselves and the community about getting vaccinated.

"I know the Department of Health has worked very hard to update their information and are working with current statistics and adjusting recommendations in response to evolving evidence," she said. "It's a day-by-day scenario.

"As GPs our position is really important to speak to people and help them feel empowered to make the right decision for them. We encourage people to think about themselves, their loved ones and getting back to a new normal. We want people to weigh these thoughts and then make the decision about the vaccines.

"The best way to get to a new normal is to be immune and at the moment we have Pfizer and AstraZeneca."

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