Germany, Italy, France, Ireland, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands have suspended their rollout of the vaccine, even though the European Union's medicines regulator has not recommended it be paused.

The move has sparked debate in Australia over whether the vaccine rollout should be suspended locally.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan was criticised after calling for Australia to follow the lead of the European countries.

And then independent MP Craig Kelly echoed the call from Senator Canavan, saying it was "reckless" for Australia not to follow suit.

But Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt was quick to dismiss safety concerns over the vaccine.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted the AstraZeneca vaccine provisional approval in February, meaning it could be legally supplied to Australians for two years.

To date, the TGA hasn't received any reports of blood clots in Australians who'd been given the vaccine, but it is in regular contact with the European Medicines Agency, which is investigating the issue overseas.

The Prime Minister has also been heavily criticised after appearing to suggest tens of thousands of people who gathered across the nation to take part in March 4 Justice rallies on Monday should be thankful they weren't shot.

Yep, you read that correctly.

Scott Morrison made the comments while comparing the nationwide rallies that called for an end to gendered violence to the violent protests in Myanmar.

"Not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets, but not here in this country," the Prime Minister of Australia said.

Federal Women's Minister Marise Payne defended his remarks.

"The observation about the opportunity to protest peacefully and safely in Australia is an important one," she said.

... thanks for not shooting us!

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