South Australia is not stockpiling the coronavirus vaccine, health officials say, despite figures suggesting it is lagging behind other states in the rollout.
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Health officials say SA has actually received more doses than originally requested at this stage in the program.
While Health Minister Stephen Wade says the government will open its first mass vaccination centre in Adelaide later this month, to be followed by two more centres, which will help scale up the number of jabs being administered.
"South Australia's vaccination rate is very close to its share of the national population," Mr Wade said.
His comments came after figures showed SA had so far used 57 per cent of the doses in its possession.
This compared with 100 per cent in both Tasmania and the ACT, 82 per cent in Western Australia while all other jurisdictions were above 70 per cent.
Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said SA had received a variable supply of vaccines so far.
"In fact, we've had an oversupply coming in above what our requested numbers were," she said.
"But it is important for the community to understand we are not stockpiling the vaccine.
"We are managing a steady and safe vaccine rollout to make sure the community can have access."
Mr Wade said SA was also looking forward to a meeting with the federal government on Wednesday, which should provide more clarity on further supplies of the Pfizer vaccine, now the preferred option for people aged under 50.
The first mass vaccination centre, to be established at the Wayville Showgrounds, will be a dedicated Pfizer clinic and is expected to administer about 3000 doses each week.
About 6000 people in SA aged under 50 had been given the Astra Zeneca vaccine, including some still potentially at risk of showing symptoms associated with a rare blood-clotting reaction.
Dr Kirkpatrack said SA's progress included 85 per cent of all people working within the hotel quarantine system.
Of the remaining 15 per cent, some had so far elected not to receive the vaccine but were being provided with advice and counselling over its importance.
According to figures released by SA Health on Monday, 39,206 vaccine doses have been administered so far.
Although that figure does not include those provided to aged care residents by the federal government and those delivered by GPs.
SA reported eight new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, all returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
The state has 13 active cases, all in isolation, including a man in his 40s who remains in a critical condition in intensive care at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Australian Associated Press
