How Does Australia Compare Globally
A strict policy of lockdowns, border closures and quarantine controls has seen Australia keep infection levels low. The country has recorded 910 deaths and 30,274 cases since the pandemic began – far fewer than most other nations.
On the vaccination front, however, it remains a laggard. According to the latest Our World data, Australia has delivered 23 doses per 100 people.
That rate compares to 106.1 doses per 100 people in the UK, 92.9 in the US, and 73.3 in Germany. Most vaccines require two doses.
Australia is one of the worst performers in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , though Japan and New Zealand hold lower vaccination rates per 100 people.
When Should I Get My Booster Shot
People will be eligible for a booster at least six months after their second shot, or third shot for those who are immunocompromised, from
The TGA has only approved Pfizer for a booster shot.
If you had the AstraZeneca vaccine for your first two doses, you will able to get Pfizer for your third shot.
What About The Other Vaccines
Early data on Moderna, another mRNA based vaccine, found it was safe and induced strong antibody responses in 6-11 year olds. Children aged 6-11 were given half the adult Moderna dose, twice, 28 days apart.
As with adults and adolescents, the most common side effects in children aged 6-11 from Moderna were fatigue, headache, fever and pain at injection site the majority were mild or moderate.
Moderna plans to submit the data to the FDA, European Medicines Agency and other regulators in the near future.
The protein-based vaccine , , has plans to evaluate its use in younger children, however the necessary trials are long from completion. So far, no preliminary data is available.
A study evaluating the AstraZeneca vaccine in children was paused due to safety concerns about blood clots and is unlikely to continue.
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Will You Have To Be Vaccinated To Travel Who Makes This Decision
While there is no mandatory vaccine in Australia, its possible that in future, vaccination against COVID-19 might become a requirement for travel to certain destinations or for people working in certain high-risk workplaces. If this becomes the case, there will be exemptions in place for people who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
What If The Virus Mutates
So far Covid-19 appears to be a slow-changing virus. A virologist with the University of Queensland, Associate Prof Ian Mackay, said for now Covid-19 and its variants can still be considered as a single virus. That means vaccines are likely to be effective against all variants.
But even if the virus did mutate significantly, it is likely scientists will be able to tweak existing technology to create a new vaccine, rather than having to start from scratch.
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Vaccines For Use In Under 65s
Three vaccine brands are being supplied under the NIP in 2021 for people aged under 65 years who are in the following at risk groups: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pregnant women, and people who have certain medical conditions: Vaxigrip Tetra, Fluarix Tetra and Afluria Quad. Vaxigrip Tetra and Afluria Quad are registered for all people under the age of 65 years.
Influvac Tetra and Fluquadri are also registered for use in people under the age of 65 years, however both will be available for purchase on the private market only.
How Much Does The Vaccine Cost
The vaccine is free of charge to all Australians. Vaccination providers cannot charge you for the COVID-19 vaccine or for your appointments to receive the vaccine.
If your vaccination provider charges for any costs associated with the administration of the COVID-19 vaccination , you should:
- contact the Australian Government by emailing , or
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Atagi Recommendation On Vaccine Use
After the TGA approves vaccines, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation provides recommendations and clinical guidance on vaccine use. The recommendation as of 29 July 2021 is that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is the preferred vaccine for people aged 60 years and older. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the preferred COVID-19 vaccine in people aged under 60 years of age and is additionally recommended in people with a history of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis , heparin-induced thrombocytopenia , deep vein thrombosis or antiphospholipid syndrome with thrombosis. These recommendations are based on the risk of TTS appearing to be higher in younger adults than in older adults, and younger adults having a lower likelihood of having severe outcomes from COVID-19 compared to older adults and theoretical concerns that a history of the rare conditions listed above may increase the risk of TTS. The AstraZeneca vaccine is also recommended to most people aged 18 years after consultation with their GP who are resident in declared hotspot areas.
In June 2021, the Federal government projected that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine would see “little need” after October 2021 when all over 60 year-old Australians were expected to be immunised.
How Much Vaccine Does Australia Have And Where Is It All
For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage,learn more here.
Australia managed to import just 1.57 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March a fraction of the federal governments early target.
That, combined with the need to hold back up to half of the doses for second jabs, goes some way to explaining why the government missed its own self-imposed target of administering 4 million vaccine doses by the end of March. That target was later pushed to the end of April.
Health Minister Greg Hunt, Liberal MP Tim Wilson, patient Dale Austin and Dr Nick Kokotis in Melbourne on Monday. Credit:Joe Armao
So far, Australia has managed to give 670,349 doses although that number was expected to top 750,000 by the end of Thursday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt has consistently pointed to problems getting supply of the vaccine as the reason for the delayed rollout.
All states and territories have a 12-week plan. All states and territories have been receiving doses in accordance with that plan. All states and territories have been doing an excellent job, he said on Sunrise on Thursday. Our program is a function of the supply.
The federal government expected to have 1 million doses of Pfizers vaccine delivered by the end of March, plus 3.8 million doses of AstraZenecas vaccine by early 2021.
Those imported doses would later be supplemented by CSLs on-shore production, which is eventually tipped to reach 1 million doses a week.
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Who Should Get The Vaccine
Everyone who can get vaccinated, should.
At the current time, the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged under 60 years who have not already received the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is based both on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age and the potentially lower, but not zero, risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome with increasing age.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can be used in adults aged under 60 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual, and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.
People who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given their second dose. This includes adults under 60 years of age. People who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels after their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine should not be given their second dose.
The Australian Government Department of Health will further develop and refine resources for informed consent that clearly convey the benefits and risks of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for both immunisation providers and consumers of all ages.
Booster Doses For Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 response are at higher risk of infection. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends people working in a healthcare settings consider receiving a booster dose. Healthcare workers were prioritised early in the vaccination rollout, so many are due for their booster dose.
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Reporting Of Adverse Events Following Influenza Vaccine
Health professionals and consumers are encouraged to report all adverse events associated with influenza vaccination in patients of any age to the TGA or through the current arrangements in their state or territory.
All reports contribute to the TGA’s ongoing monitoring of the safety of influenza vaccines.
The TGA cannot give advice about an individual’s medical condition. You are strongly encouraged to talk with a health professional if you are concerned about a possible adverse event associated with a vaccine or medicine.
- Category:Alert/Advisory
Pfizer / Biontech Vaccine
Australia will be among the first countries to conditionally approve the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, following a decision to bring forward the rollout to mid-February.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration was expected to receive all of the data it needed from vaccine developer Pfizer in mid-January, with approval due by the end of January.
Morrison said Pfizers global protocols required about two weeks for delivery post-approval.
Priority would be given to frontline workers in health care, hotel quarantine and border management.
Elderly people in aged care homes will also be among the first Australians to get the jab, pending its approval by Australias Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The Pfizer vaccine is harder to manage than the AstraZeneca jab because it must be stored and transported at -70C, while the latter can be kept in a refrigerator.
How does the Pfizer vaccine work?
Pfizer and its German-based partner BioNTech use a new approach to making vaccines that uses messenger RNA or mRNA.
This design was chosen for a pandemic vaccine years ago because its one that lends itself to quick turnaround. All that is needed is the genetic sequence of the virus causing the pandemic. Vaccine makers dont even need the virus itself – just the sequence.
In this case, BioNTech researchers used a little piece of genetic material coding for a piece of the spike protein – the structure that adorns the surface of the coronavirus, giving it that studded appearance.
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Whats The Difference Between A Booster Dose And A Primary Vaccine Course
A booster dose refers to an additional vaccine dose after youve completed the primary vaccine course.
A primary COVID-19 vaccine course consists of 2 doses of the following COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia: Comirnaty , Spikevax or Vaxzevria or 1 dose of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine also known as Johnson & Johnson .
Mixed schedules of these vaccines are also included in the definition of an acceptable primary course, as are additional TGA-recognised vaccines.
For people with severe immunocompromise, a primary course is defined as 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Do Immunodeficiency Or Autoimmune Treatments Need To Be Stopped To Have A Covid
It is important that regular treatments for immunodeficiencies and autoimmune conditions are continued, because stopping these treatments can place people with these conditions at greater risk from COVID-19.
Vaccination should occur on a different day from regular infusion treatments, such as immunoglobulin or immunosuppressant infusions. Speak to your treating clinician about the best timing for your vaccination.
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Can I Get The Flu Vaccine On The Same Day As A Covid
No. It is not recommended that you receive a COVID-19 vaccine on the same day as any other vaccine, including an inactivated influenza vaccine. If you receive a flu vaccination, you must wait 7 days before you can receive your first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. As per advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation it is preferred the minimum interval between influenza vaccine and a dose of COVID-19 vaccine is 7 days.
First Wave: Marchapril 2020
Australia reported its 100th case on 10 March 2020 roughly corresponding to the start of Australia’s first wave. Case numbers and deaths continued to climb during March and April, but by late April the first wave had effectively ended. On 6 June, both New South Wales and Victoria reported no new cases for the previous 24 hours, with only Queensland and Western Australia reporting one new case each, the lowest national total since February.
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What Is A Covid
Just as we have vaccines to help protect us against diseases like measles, whooping cough, chicken pox or the flu, there is a vaccine that will help protect you against COVID-19. There are different types of COVID-19 vaccines, but they all aim to protect you against COVID-19.
There are three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia:
- Pfizer
These vaccines have been provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration .
At the current time, the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is preferred over AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in adults aged under 60 years who have not already received the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is based both on the increased risk of complications from COVID-19 with increasing age and the potentially lower, but not zero, risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome with increasing age.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine can be used in adults aged under 60 years where the benefits are likely to outweigh the risks for that individual, and the person has made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits.
People who have had their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine without any serious adverse effects can be given their second dose. This includes adults under 60 years of age. People who have had blood clots associated with low platelet levels after their first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine should not be given their second dose.
How Have The Covid
The urgency of the pandemic has meant that all available resources and efforts have been directed towards finding effective vaccines.
Globally, some COVID-19 vaccines were approved and administered just 12 months after the virus was discovered. Usually, development of a vaccine takes several years. Some of the reasons behind this rapid progress include:
- The levels of funding and collaboration between vaccine developers and governments are greater than ever before. Planning began early, including investment in manufacturing facilities before a vaccine was even available.
- Technology makes vaccine development faster than in the past. To develop a vaccine, scientists need to understand the viruss genetic code. New technology allowed researchers to quickly identify the genetic code of the COVID-19 virus soon after it emerged. This allowed scientists around the world to start designing and building vaccines.
- Clinical trials progress more quickly if a disease is widespread, which is the case for COVID-19 in many countries. This means researchers can evaluate the effect of a vaccine on both unvaccinated and vaccinated groups much sooner than theyd be able with a rare disease.
For more information on the Australian Governments COVID-19 vaccine strategy, go to health.gov.au and click on COVID-19 vaccines.
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Can I Leave Quarantine Or Lockdown To Have My Covid
If you are booked in for your first or second dose vaccination and one of the following applies, you will need to reschedule your appointment through the vaccination booking system or by calling 134 COVID . If you miss your second dose date, you will be re-booked for a date as close as possible.
- You are in home quarantine or hotel quarantine
- You are unwell, even if you have retuned a negative COVID-19 test
- You are in isolation waiting for your COVID-19 test result
If you have a vaccination booking during lockdown and you are well and not in quarantine, please attend your appointment and wear a mask.
What Does The Vaccine Approval Process Look Like
All vaccines go through trials and tests as they are developed and before they are approved for use. This includes being tested on thousands of volunteers before it is approved.
For the COVID-19 vaccines, no testing phase has been skipped. Instead, some of these phases have been combined, or run at the same time as each other. Having these overlapping time frames has helped test COVID-19 vaccines quickly and help make them available to save lives earlier.
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What Are The Four Vaccines Australia Is Getting
Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine: This is a viral vector vaccine, containing a weak or inactivated virus that cannot cause disease. This virus has genetic material from the Covid-19 virus inserted in it. Once the viral vector is inside human cells, the cells make a protein unique to the Covid-19 virus. This triggers the body to begin to build an immune response. If infected with Covid-19, the body will remember how to activate this response and fight the real virus.
Australia has secured 33.8m units of this vaccine. The phase three interim clinical trial results have only been communicated in a press release, so it is hard fully to interpret the results in subgroups, for example in elderly people.
In clinical trials, phase three represents the final stage before the drug is rolled out to the general population, and involves tens of thousands of participants.
This is a classical protein vaccine, and includes harmless pieces of Covid-19. Once vaccinated, the immune system recognises that the proteins dont belong in the body and begins building antibodies.
If the vaccine proves safe and effective, 40m units will be available in Australia as early as the first half of 2021. Phase one and two clinical trials are being conducted in Australia and the United States. Phase three clinical trials are under way in the UK.