Australia 'in danger of being left behind' if vaccine pace doesn't ramp up

Australia is "in danger of being left behind" when the rest of the world starts re-opening, Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles says.

Speaking to Today, the politician lashed the Federal Government's vaccination drive, branding the slow pace "a shambles".

To date, over two million vaccine doses have been administered. The government hoped to have four million people inoculated by March, and the entire country vaccinated by October.

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Mr Marles said the COVID-19 vaccine rollout needs to pick up pace.

"We are way behind the rest of the world," he said.

"We're in danger of being left behind, and all you hear from the government is 'I've got plenty of time this isn't a race. Doesn't matter how long it takes to do it.'

"We need to be getting the vaccine done, right. That is the ultimate solution to this problem"

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Marles "was quick off the block" to criticise the drive.

His comments came after after five more recipients suffered blood clotting after receiving AstraZeneca jab.

While Mr Dutton said the risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine is low, he encouraged Australians to confer with their GPs.

"Take the advice of the doctors," Mr Dutton said.

"If you've got a medical condition, you go and see your GP. You take the advice of the doctor or the specialist.

"The best specialists in the country in this area are all at one. They are telling to us take the vaccine."

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