Protesters in Australia took to the streets on Saturday demonstrating against the COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

There were protests in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and other cities even as the country has reportedly carried out vaccination among 85 per cent of the population.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-australians-want-compensation-for-covid-vaccine-side-effects-report-429883">Also Read:&nbsp;Thousands of Australians want compensation for Covid vaccine side-effects</a>

The demonstrators hit out against COVID-19 restrictions for&nbsp;those who are unvaccinated although the protests were largely peaceful. There were also reports of pro-vaccination rally in some places with people urging citizens to take the jab.

Citizens in Melbourne had spent over 260 days under lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Sydney had undergone a lockdown lasting for 106 days as restaurants, pubs and cafes remained closed.

Watch: Emotional reunions at Sydney airport as Australia lifts travel ban

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/emotional-reunions-at-sydney-airport-as-australia-lifts-travel-ban-425869/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

All shops and schools had closed in June in Sydney as authorities allowed only essential services to continue with a ban on travel&nbsp;for more than five kilometres applied to residents as the country struggled to battle against the Delta variant.

Amid the protests, Victoria on Saturday reported over 1,600 COVID-19 with five fatalities. New South Wales reported 182 coronavirus cases as the country continues to grapple with the virus. However, Australia has one of the lowest coronavirus cases, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/life-will-be-miserable-for-unvaccinated-people-warns-australian-medical-chief-429185">Also Read:&nbsp;'Life will be miserable' for unvaccinated people, warns Australian medical chief</a>

The Australian government had imposed a strict travel ban for over 18 months in a bid to keep the virus at bay but&nbsp;last month PM Scott Morrison declared that citizens will be able to return home&nbsp;since the vaccination rate had reached over 80 per cent.

The Australian government had imposed the world's toughest border restrictions as it grounded flights and did not allow its own citizens to come back even as the&nbsp;department of home affairs rejected thousands of requests from its citizens to enter or leave the country. &nbsp;

The vaccination debate has spilled over&nbsp;into the Australian Open as tournament chief Craig Tiley insisted that all players must be vaccinated in order to take part in the tournament.&nbsp;

The country has so far recorded 195,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,933 deaths.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Protesters in Australia took to the streets on Saturday demonstrating against the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. There were protests in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and other cities even as the country has reportedly carried out vaccination among 85 per cent of the population.

Protesters in Australia took to the streets on Saturday demonstrating against the COVID-19 vaccination mandate. There were protests in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and other cities even as the country has reportedly carried out vaccination among 85 per cent of the population. Also Read: Thousands of Australians want compensation for Covid vaccine side-effects The demonstrators hit out against COVID-19 restrictions for those who are unvaccinated although the protests were largely peaceful. There were also reports of pro-vaccination rally in some places with people urging citizens to take the jab. Citizens in Melbourne had spent over 260 days under lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Sydney had undergone a lockdown lasting for 106 days as restaurants, pubs and cafes remained closed. Watch: Emotional reunions at Sydney airport as Australia lifts travel ban All shops and schools had closed in June in Sydney as authorities allowed only essential services to continue with a ban on travel for more than five kilometres applied to residents as the country struggled to battle against the Delta variant. Amid the protests, Victoria on Saturday reported over 1,600 COVID-19 with five fatalities. New South Wales reported 182 coronavirus cases as the country continues to grapple with the virus. However, Australia has one of the lowest coronavirus cases, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO). Also Read: 'Life will be miserable' for unvaccinated people, warns Australian medical chief The Australian government had imposed a strict travel ban for over 18 months in a bid to keep the virus at bay but last month PM Scott Morrison declared that citizens will be able to return home since the vaccination rate had reached over 80 per cent. The Australian government had imposed the world's toughest border restrictions as it grounded flights and did not allow its own citizens to come back even as the department of home affairs rejected thousands of requests from its citizens to enter or leave the country. The vaccination debate has spilled over into the Australian Open as tournament chief Craig Tiley insisted that all players must be vaccinated in order to take part in the tournament. The country has so far recorded 195,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,933 deaths. (With inputs from Agencies)

Thousands protest against vaccine mandate in Australia

Sydney in&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/australians-chasing-covid-19-vaccines-like-hunger-games-health-minister-amid-low-supply-396111">Australia</a>&nbsp;recorded the highest daily COVID-19 cases amid a lockdown with the Delta variant outbreak worrying health officials.

PM Scott Morrison said that &nbsp;300,000 coronavirus vaccine doses will be sent to Sydney as the vaccination drive struggles amid a surge in virus cases.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/australian-prime-minister-and-finance-minister-contradict-on-covid-19-jab-stocks-395329/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Australian PM warned that the situation in Sydney had turned "very serious" while asking residents to keep "pressing forward" and not "get frustrated".

Authorities are set to further tighten lockdown in areas witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases. New South Wales recorded 38 COVID-19 cases with reports indicating the source of some infection was under investigation with others linked to clusters in the city.

Restrictions were due to be relaxed in greater Sydney however lockdown was extended amid new coronavirus cases. Sydney is currently under stay-at-home order with officials likely to extend the lockdown beyond July 16.

Sydney was put under a lockdown on June 26 as Scott Morrison said the "virus tends to set its own rules". Reports say household virus transmission is underway in various areas with only shopping for essentials allowed.

New South Wales chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant urged residents to get vaccinated while emphasising that more testing was needed with the testing numbers reportedly falling in recent days.

Reports say just 9 per cent of the people in New South Wales have been vaccinated so far with 29 per cent having received both doses.

Australia has so far reported over 30,800 virus cases and 910 deaths.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Sydney in Australia recorded the highest daily COVID-19 cases amid a lockdown with the Delta variant outbreak worrying health officials. PM Scott Morrison said that 300,000 coronavirus vaccine doses will be sent to Sydney as the vaccination drive struggles amid a surge in virus cases.

Sydney in Australia recorded the highest daily COVID-19 cases amid a lockdown with the Delta variant outbreak worrying health officials. PM Scott Morrison said that 300,000 coronavirus vaccine doses will be sent to Sydney as the vaccination drive struggles amid a surge in virus cases. Watch: The Australian PM warned that the situation in Sydney had turned "very serious" while asking residents to keep "pressing forward" and not "get frustrated". Authorities are set to further tighten lockdown in areas witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases. New South Wales recorded 38 COVID-19 cases with reports indicating the source of some infection was under investigation with others linked to clusters in the city. Restrictions were due to be relaxed in greater Sydney however lockdown was extended amid new coronavirus cases. Sydney is currently under stay-at-home order with officials likely to extend the lockdown beyond July 16. Sydney was put under a lockdown on June 26 as Scott Morrison said the "virus tends to set its own rules". Reports say household virus transmission is underway in various areas with only shopping for essentials allowed. New South Wales chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant urged residents to get vaccinated while emphasising that more testing was needed with the testing numbers reportedly falling in recent days. Reports say just 9 per cent of the people in New South Wales have been vaccinated so far with 29 per cent having received both doses. Australia has so far reported over 30,800 virus cases and 910 deaths. (With inputs from Agencies)

Australia's Sydney witnesses surge in COVID-19 despite lockdown

After <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-deputy-pm-fined-for-not-wearing-mask-in-breach-of-covid-19-rules-394628">Australian </a>PM Scott Morrison allowed citizens under 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine several state governments resisted the central governments&nbsp;call to vaccinate people.

Watch:

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The country's health minister Greg Hunt said that "COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 60 years of age for whom Pfizer is not available," while adding, "The benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual."

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Thank you Ken and each and every Australian who has received a COVID-19 vaccination. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects you &amp; your community. <a href="https://t.co/JjYp9GOJIh">https://t.co/JjYp9GOJIh</a>
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregHuntMP/status/1407161029042204672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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However, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-covid-19-response-team-holds-urgent-meeting-amid-new-outbreaks-394361">Western Australia's</a> premier Mark McGowan on giving access to those under 40, said: "That shouldn’t happen. Clearly, we get different advice, I suppose, or have a different approach."

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Australia has now passed 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. 
 
Thank you to each and every Australian who has come forward for their vaccination. You are helping to save lives and protect lives. <a href="https://t.co/nZFvwd0lND">pic.twitter.com/nZFvwd0lND</a>
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregHuntMP/status/1408259579239145474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The hesitancy over AstraZeneca shots is linked to reports of blood clots even as the World Health Organization(WHO) recommended continued use of the AstraZeneca shot asserting that benefits outweighed the rare risk of clots.&nbsp;

"Now the ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice talks about a preference for AstraZeneca to be available, made available to those as preferred for those over 60," the Australian PM had said.

"But the advice does not preclude persons under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine," Morrison added.

Morrison had said that all under-60s should “go and have that discussion with your GP” over AstraZeneca vaccine shots. Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell took the second shot of the AstraZeneca(Covishield) while saying on Twitter,&nbsp;"thought it fitting to wear my NSW Blues jersey."

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Second Astra Zeneca shot (Covishield) courtesy of the Govt of India 🇮🇳. Thought it fitting to wear my ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/NSWBlues?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NSWBlues</a>⁩ jersey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TwoWinsTwoShots?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TwoWinsTwoShots</a>. <a href="https://t.co/yZR7Z2cx5b">pic.twitter.com/yZR7Z2cx5b</a>
— Barry O'Farrell (@barryofarrell) <a href="https://twitter.com/barryofarrell/status/1409753165763809292?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Australian PM had said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moderna-shares-soar-after-report-that-its-covid-shot-works-against-delta-variant-394882">Delta variant </a>was proving "to be a far more difficult element" and presenting "very different challenges".

Several million Australians are in various forms of lockdown amid a slow vaccine rollout. Morrison said young people can take the vaccine after talking to the doctor who will be covered by a no-fault indemnity scheme.

Amid the vaccine row, Northern Queensland state along with the Western Australian capital of Perth announced lockdowns to combat the fast-spreading virus. Sydney is already in a state of lockdown till July 9.

With the vaccine chaos overtaking several states, Omar Khorshid, the president of the Australian Medical Association said: "AstraZeneca is safe, it is effective, but for those under 60 there is a better vaccine and that is Pfizer" as three Australian states said they were not consulted before Morrison's announcement.

Australia has vaccinated just 5 per cent of its population but has recorded relatively low 30,500 coronavirus cases and 910 deaths but has witnessed a surge in cases in the past month worrying health officials.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After Australian PM Scott Morrison allowed citizens under 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine several state governments resisted the central governments call to vaccinate people.

After Australian PM Scott Morrison allowed citizens under 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine several state governments resisted the central governments call to vaccinate people. Watch: The country's health minister Greg Hunt said that "COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca can be used in adults aged under 60 years of age for whom Pfizer is not available," while adding, "The benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual." Thank you Ken and each and every Australian who has received a COVID-19 vaccination. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects you & your community. https://t.co/JjYp9GOJIh — Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) June 22, 2021 × However, Western Australia's premier Mark McGowan on giving access to those under 40, said: "That shouldn’t happen. Clearly, we get different advice, I suppose, or have a different approach." Australia has now passed 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. Thank you to each and every Australian who has come forward for their vaccination. You are helping to save lives and protect lives. pic.twitter.com/nZFvwd0lND — Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) June 25, 2021 × The hesitancy over AstraZeneca shots is linked to reports of blood clots even as the World Health Organization(WHO) recommended continued use of the AstraZeneca shot asserting that benefits outweighed the rare risk of clots. "Now the ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice talks about a preference for AstraZeneca to be available, made available to those as preferred for those over 60," the Australian PM had said. "But the advice does not preclude persons under 60 from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine," Morrison added. Morrison had said that all under-60s should “go and have that discussion with your GP” over AstraZeneca vaccine shots. Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell took the second shot of the AstraZeneca(Covishield) while saying on Twitter, "thought it fitting to wear my NSW Blues jersey." Second Astra Zeneca shot (Covishield) courtesy of the Govt of India 🇮🇳. Thought it fitting to wear my ⁦@NSWBlues⁩ jersey #TwoWinsTwoShots. pic.twitter.com/yZR7Z2cx5b — Barry O'Farrell (@barryofarrell) June 29, 2021 × The Australian PM had said that the Delta variant was proving "to be a far more difficult element" and presenting "very different challenges". Several million Australians are in various forms of lockdown amid a slow vaccine rollout. Morrison said young people can take the vaccine after talking to the doctor who will be covered by a no-fault indemnity scheme. Amid the vaccine row, Northern Queensland state along with the Western Australian capital of Perth announced lockdowns to combat the fast-spreading virus. Sydney is already in a state of lockdown till July 9. With the vaccine chaos overtaking several states, Omar Khorshid, the president of the Australian Medical Association said: "AstraZeneca is safe, it is effective, but for those under 60 there is a better vaccine and that is Pfizer" as three Australian states said they were not consulted before Morrison's announcement. Australia has vaccinated just 5 per cent of its population but has recorded relatively low 30,500 coronavirus cases and 910 deaths but has witnessed a surge in cases in the past month worrying health officials. (With inputs from Agencies)

Australia faces AstraZeneca vaccine chaos over PM Morrison's statement