TGA approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for people aged 18 and over
Australians are one step closer to receiving COVID-19 booster shots, after the national medical regulator gave them the green light.
Key points:
- Health Minister Greg Hunt says the government expects boosters to be rolled out from November 8
- The government is waiting on advice from ATAGI about who should receive them, and when
- The PM says aged and disability care residents will get boosters first
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for people aged 18 years and older, six months after their second dose.
In a statement, the TGA said people could receive the booster shot regardless of what their first two vaccine doses were.
However, it did note that data on the use of Pfizer as a booster with other COVID-19 vaccines, such as AstraZeneca, was limited.
While the TGA has made its decision, boosters are not available just yet.
The federal government has to wait for advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) about exactly who it thinks should receive booster shots, and when.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he would not pre-empt ATAGI's advice but he was "quietly hopeful".
"Subject to the ATAGI advice, we intend to commence the general population booster program no later than November 8," he said.
"We have the supplies, we have a distribution mechanism, we will work with the states, the GPs, the pharmacies."
Mr Hunt said the boosters would not be required by the federal government to exempt people from restrictions or rules, like being able to travel overseas without needing permission.
ATAGI met on Wednesday to discuss the matter, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he expected a decision would be made soon.
"The TGA approval which gives those booster shots for over 18s, six months apart, we will be starting with those in the aged care facilities like we did with the vaccine program," he told Channel Nine.
In the United States booster shots have been approved for people over 65, and in the United Kingdom for those over 50, as well as anyone who is immunocompromised or is a frontline worker.
Israel has offered Pfizer boosters to anyone aged 12 and older.
Mr Hunt said, pending ATAGi's approval, it would make Australia one of the first countries in the world to offer a "whole population" booster program.
TGA head John Skerritt said it was important to reinforce that having two doses of the vaccine provided "excellent protection" and boosters were about additional protection, particularly for the elderly or frontline workers.
"By January 1 there'll be 1.6 million people who will be six months [on from their second dose] or more," Professor Skerritt said.
"Because of the efforts of the government, including additional doses from overseas, there is more than enough vaccines in the system to cover that, should the advice come from ATAGI to do that."
Professor Skerritt also said the data and research so far showed the mRNA vaccines had no impact on pregnancies and there was no evidence to say booster shots would be any different, meaning pregnant women should receive one.
He also confirmed the TGA had received part of an application from Pfizer to approve its vaccine for use in children between the ages of five and 11.
"It'll take a few weeks but I'd hope that we get there by the end of November, but it depends on getting the full application from Pfizer," he said.
Mr Hunt also confirmed the Pfizer vaccine would now be offered at pharmacies and the Moderna shot would be made available at GPs.
Earlier this month, ATAGI recommended that booster shots be given to the "severely immunocompromised", with that rollout starting nearly immediately.
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