Sunrise's Kochie slams QLD vaccine health advice: 'It's dangerous'

Sunrise host David Koch has revealed his apparent frustration over the current state of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout in Australia during a heated segment on the breakfast program on Thursday.

Kochie was interviewing Finance Minister Simon Birmingham about Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's lashing of the prime minister's call to endorse the AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s, urging Queenslanders not to listen to him.

Ms Palaszczuk said on Wednesday the National Cabinet was not consulted on the move.

"There has been no national cabinet decision about providing AstraZeneca to the under 40s. Let me say that again – there's been no national cabinet decision about providing AstraZeneca to the under 40s," she said.

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In an unusually pointed press conference, the Premier implored Queenslanders to ignore the latest change in rhetoric from Scott Morrison.

"I urge Queenslanders to listen to Dr Young, and follow the advice of our chief health officer. Also, we follow the medical advice and the medical advice is very clear," she said.

Her outburst sparked a political storm, with David Koch asking Mr Birmingham on Thursday whether her comments were "a danger to the public health of Australians".

"Well they are certainly deeply unhelpful," Mr Birmingham responded, also going so far as to call her claims about the AstraZeneca vaccine "extremist".

So far, 7.6M doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been distributed and received by Aussies, Mr Birmingham clarified.

But it was clear Kochie was frustrated by the arguing from all sides of politics.

"We should have confidence in our politicians. They are undermining the vaccine program. It's frustrating, it is dangerous.

"Why isn't everyone on the same page?"

On Wednesday AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid criticised the federal government's "mixed messaging" on the vaccine rollout.

"I think Australians don't know which way is up when it comes to the national vaccine program," he told the ABC.

"AMA recommends Australians follow the expert ATAGI advice [the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation] and have the recommended vaccine when it's available," the national body says.

And yet there are reports of younger Australians - aged under 40 - who have been able to book themselves appointments to received a Covid-19 vaccine despite not falling into the essential worker category.

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