Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said despite Morrison’s seemingly impromptu announcement of broadened eligibility, “there has been no National Cabinet decision about providing AZ to the under 40s”.

On Monday night, Morrison was asked if people under 40 could resort to AstraZeneca and said “if they wish to go and speak to their doctor and have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine, they can do so”.

It was widely reported as opening up vaccination to younger Australians, albeit in line with existing advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation that, where Pfizer is unavailable, patients under 60 discuss AstraZeneca with their doctor and only proceed if the benefits outweigh the risks.

But Palaszczuk and other state officials suggested Morrison had gone too far, without the backing of ATAGI or a discussion with other jurisdictions.

Seizing on the Commonwealth’s repeated references to the United Kingdom’s recent surge in cases among a more vaccinated population, Palaszczuk noted that the UK was even offering alternatives to AstraZeneca for younger people due to the risk of blood clots.

Palaszczuk said Queensland would continue to take the advice of ATAGI and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, that people aged 60 and over get AstraZeneca, and younger people preferably get Pfizer.

But Morrison’s announcement has already seen younger people rush out for AstraZeneca vaccines, prompting an urgent meeting of government health officials later today. Health groups have warned of mixed messages undermining the rollout.

Queensland had opened state Pfizer hubs to people in their forties and fifties but after another record day of vaccinations could run out of doses within eight days. The state is no longer holding back second doses in reserve.

Today, Young was asked whether she would recommend people under 40 have AstraZeneca and replied: “No, I’m sorry if I haven’t made that clear – no”. Her comments were later backed by interstate health officials.

Young said young, healthy people should wait until Pfizer became available, not risk a clotting illness that has been associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“We’ve seen up to 49 deaths in the UK from that syndrome,” Young said.

“I don’t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got COVID, probably wouldn’t die.

“Wouldn’t it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland who dies related to this pandemic died because of the vaccine?”

Young said she had not spoken to Morrison and could not understand his thought processes, but Queenslanders should continue to follow expert advice.

Doctors can still recommend Pfizer for patients aged under 40, depending on the circumstances and the availability of doses.

Young is in her late fifties and has herself opted for AstraZeneca, whereas Palaszczuk, 51, chose Pfizer, citing the need for a quick turnaround should she need to travel overseas. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, 50, received the AstraZeneca vaccine from her GP.