Fresh outbreaks and lockdowns across four capital cities have triggered major changes to the vaccine rollout.

National cabinet has agreed to introduce a no-fault indemnity scheme to allow GPs to administer AstraZeneca to all adults, regardless of age.

Anyone willing to talk it through with their doctor can now get the AstraZeneca jab, while Pfizer remains the preferred vaccine for under-60s.

However, it appears the national cabinet outcome was not universally supported.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk believes governments should be following the advice of an expert panel known as ATAGI, which has recommended AstraZeneca only be given to people aged over 60.

The state's chief health officer repeatedly stressed it was the prime minister's idea to offer AstraZeneca to those under 40.

"There are some people asking to get AstraZeneca although the clinical advice is they should not," Jeannette Young told reporters.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is also lukewarm about the shift in position.

Ms Berejiklian confirmed the change was discussed at national cabinet and would be followed in NSW, but barely endorsed the policy.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said the AstraZeneca call was not a decision of national cabinet.

He has written to the federal government seeking more advice.

The head of the Australian Medical Association was given no notice that the prime minister would encourage anyone under 60 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.

"Our recommendation is still really for patients to follow the ATAGI advice," Omar Khorshid told The Guardian.

"Be patient and have the ATAGI-recommended vaccine when it's available. I am certainly still backing the expert advice at this stage."

Dr Khorshid suspects the federal government made the decision to provide hope to people in lockdown.

"My guess is they are wanting to provide nervous Australians who are going into lockdown this week with something they can actually do to improve their chances of getting through this and to push the nation's vaccination program forward."

Karen Price from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners welcomed the change in position.

Dr Price said as long as people understood the low risk of rare blood clots, she would have no hesitation giving a well-informed patient under 40 the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Medical clinics have been inundated with booking requests, with some GPs blindsided by the announcement.

National cabinet also agreed to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for all aged care and quarantine workers.

The federal government will provide $11 million to cover paid leave for workers having vaccinations.

Coronavirus outbreaks across the country have forced a series of snap lockdowns.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is the latest to announce a three-day lockdown across large parts of the state.

Residents of southeast Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island will be subjected to the stay-at-home restrictions.

They join residents of Perth, Sydney and Darwin already in lockdown as authorities try to contain new cases.

Australian Associated Press