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A flaw in Australia's vaccine rollout is inadvertently pushing people to get three Covid shots - because they won't otherwise be considered 'fully vaccinated' by the Australian government.
In the latest blunder to plague Australia's vaccination program, Medicare is telling some Australians who have already been jabbed twice that they haven't completed their immunisation course.
Northern Territory business owner Rick Mooney received his first AstraZeneca shot in April, but was accidentally given Pfizer as his second shot in June.
Despite receiving two Covid shots and growing evidence from overseas that 'mixing' vaccines provides a strong immune response, Mr Mooney's official Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) statement reads: 'This individual has *not* received all required Covid-19 vaccines'.
The 59-year-old called health officials, who told him he wouldn't need another jab. But the government still refused to change his certificate to confirm he was fully vaccinated.
Mr Mooney then went out and received a second dose of Pfizer this week as 'it was the only way I could find to get a vaccination certificate.'
Rick Mooney was given an AstraZeneca vaccine and a Pfizer jab and had to get a third dose so his vaccine certificate would say he was fully immunised
Mr Mooney's immunisation record did not say he had received all of his vaccines until he received two shots of Pfizer
'My big issue is I really need to get that certificate resolved, because at some point in the future we might be required to present that for something,' Mr Mooney told Daily Mail Australia.
The Arnhem Land man suggested that one day soon he may need to provide proof of vaccination for work or to travel to remote parts of the Territory which are vulnerable to Covid outbreaks.
'I run a company - I just wanted that resolved,' Mr Mooney said. The register only marked Mr Mooney fully vaccinated after he received his third dose of vaccine on Thursday.
His concerns are well-founded. Several European countries mandate citizens show they have been fully vaccinated or received a negative Covid test to access services.
In France, residents must show their Covid 'green pass' before entering cinemas, theatres, museums and theme parks. Denmark and some German states have the same rules for restaurants.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has likewise suggested 'vaccine
