Scott Morrison rejects claims Australia bought 'the budget shot'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rubbished claims Australia bought a cheaper vaccine by investing in AstraZeneca.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie claimed on Today the country had bought the "budget shot", in favour of the Pfizer vaccine.

"Certainly from being part of that COVID committee the other day, (my question) was 'what did you get us, the budget shot?' It was cheaper," Ms Lambie said.

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"That's really, really worrying because I have to ask what our is worth to the Prime Minister this morning.

"They will still not give a direct answer whether they purchased the AstraZeneca because it was cheaper than the Pfizer."

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Mr Morrison called the claims "rubbish" and said it was a "$7 billion" purchase.

"That is not cheap in anybody's language," Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said he would work to offer everybody a vaccination by the end of the year.

"The vaccine roll-out will hit seven million doses," he told Today.

"Two-thirds of people over 70 have had their first dose," he said.

"Around half of those over 50 have had their first dose."

Ms Lambie questioned when additional Pfizer vaccines would arrive on our shores.

"Why it's taken so long to get more of those Pfizer shots is beyond me," Ms Lambie said.

"If you think they're coming by Christmas, I tell you, you've got more confidence in this government than what I have this morning."

Phase-out plans

The AstraZeneca vaccine is due to be phased out in the coming months, with plans to replace it with imported supplies of the Pfizer vaccine.

Projections from the Department of Health forecasts the locally-made AstraZeneca vaccine will be largely phased out by October as demand drops after over-60s are vaccinated.

However, it will still be available by request.

COVID-19 Taskforce Commander Lieutenant-general John Frewen released the Government's latest rollout plan on Wednesday, which aims to provide up to 810,000 Pfizer doses to states and territory's between October and December.

"For all of those people and cohorts that AstraZeneca is preferred, we think they will have received their AstraZeneca by the fourth quarter," Lieutenant-general Frewen said.

"For any people who still do require AstraZeneca, we will have allocations available into the fourth quarter."

Mr Morrison said AstraZeneca has posed challenges for the vaccine rollout.

"The medical advice has restricted its availability to those over 60 and prior to that over 50," Mr Morrison said.

"Now, that was a big shock to the roll-out and they are events outside of the government's control.

"Thankfully we are able to put in place significant supply arrangement, not just with AstraZeneca, but also with Pfizer and Moderna, and of course there is the Novavax and the COVAX facilities as well."

Health advice recommends younger people don't get the AstraZeneca jab due to rare blood clots.

The supply of Pfizer is expected to increase by 300,000 doses a week to 750,000 by August.

From October, Australia should receive 2.3 million doses per week.