Novavax becomes Australia’s 5th approved COVID-19 vaccine

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday became the fifth coronavirus vaccine approved for use in Australia.

The country has ordered 51 million doses of the US-made vaccine, supplied under the Nuvaxovid brand, for a population of 26 million. Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna Vaccines are already in use in Australia. Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine has also been approved but the government has not bought any.

The Novavax vaccine will be available to unvaccinated Australians 18 years of age and older, but will not be used as a booster for the 95 percent of the population aged 16 and older who have already received the vaccine.

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John Skerritt, chief regulator of the Therapeutic Goods Administration, said, “Despite the massive spread of vaccination in this country, there are some individuals who are looking forward to Novavax, and it’s great that it’s finally approved.” “

“Our dream is to turn our 95 percent into 97 or 98 percent in this country,” Skerritt said.

The protein-based vaccine is to be given in two doses spaced three weeks apart.

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Paul Griffin, associate professor of medicine at the University of Queensland, said Australia needed to make efforts to improve on its already impressive vaccination rates.

Griffin said, “For a number of reasons, it seems that some people have been reluctant to receive these vaccines, so our vaccination rates may increase even further based on an additional option, perhaps considered a more traditional platform.” likely to increase.”