Moderna vaccine approved by TGA for COVID-19 booster shot in adults
The national medicines regulator has approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster shot in adults.
Key points:
- ATAGI is now considering whether to also give Moderna final approval to be used as a booster
- Health Minister Greg Hunt is hopeful a decision by ATAGI will be made within a fortnight
- Pfizer is currently the only booster available
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) was now considering whether to approve its use.
If approved by ATAGI it will become the second option after Pfizer for Australians who are eligible for a booster.
Mr Hunt said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was the "first green light" but that he was hopeful ATAGI would give the final one.
"So in addition to the Pfizer booster, subject to final approval [of Moderna by ATAGI] … Australians will have two options for boosters very, very shortly," he said.
The Health Minister said as well as boosters, ATAGI was also considering approving the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11.
Mr Hunt said he was "very hopeful" there would a be a "positive announcement" about that issue and the Moderna boosters in the next couple of weeks.
The government bought 25 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, with 15 million of that slated to be used in the first half of 2022 as boosters.
Booster shots are available for adults six months after their second dose, or two to six months after the second dose for anyone who is severely immunocompromised.
ATAGI was recently asked to review the booster time frame in response to the Omicron variant but recommended that there be no change because there was not enough evidence that shortening the window would improve protection against the virus.
The booster program began a month ago after Pfizer was given the green light by both the TGA and ATAGI.
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