Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine will be offered only to those eligible for the Pfizer vaccine when it is rolled out in Australia next month.
Key points:
- Moderna will initially be made available only to people aged between 18 and 60
- A decision on providing Moderna to those aged between 12 and 18 is expected soon
- AMA President Omar Khorshid says it "makes sense" to treat Moderna and Pfizer in a similar way
The vaccine is expected to be made available primarily through pharmacies from late September, and will be allocated on a per-capita basis across the states and territories.
As it is an MRNA vaccine, the ABC understands it will initially be offered only to people aged between 18 and 60, along the same lines as the Pfizer vaccine.
Those over the age of 60 will remain eligible only for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Eligibility for the Moderna vaccine will likely also be extended to those under 18, like Pfizer, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) considering an application from Moderna.
It is expected to make a decision on providing the vaccine to those aged between 12 and 18 within a fortnight.
Hesitancy among a small proportion of Australians over 60 towards the AstraZeneca vaccine, due to the very small risk of serious blood clots, has been raised as an issue in the past.
As of Saturday, 86 percent of Australians over 70 had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, along with 77 percent of those over 50.
Vaccine advisory body ATAGI has suggested allowing older Australians the "choice of vaccine" to ensure they are vaccinated.
ABC News: Matt Roberts
)But Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Friday there was a "strong, continuous demand" for vaccines among older Australians.
He added that advice from ATAGI was being followed "to the letter".
Significant numbers of Australians under 60 are also taking up the AstraZeneca vaccine, rather than waiting for Pfizer supplies to ramp up later in the year.
ATAGI has previously suggested younger Australians in outbreak areas consider AstraZeneca, as the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for all age groups.
Decision makes 'absolute sense'
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) argues that given the vaccines are so similar, it makes sense to offer them in an identical fashion.
AMA president Omar Khorshid said they should play the same role in the rollout.
"Moderna is actually very similar to Pfizer in terms of how it works, the technology behind it, and the effect on the community," he said.
"So, it actually makes absolute sense to treat it much like Pfizer in terms of its place in Australia's vaccine scheme."
And Dr Khorshid urged anyone over 60 still reluctant to take up an AstraZeneca vaccine to re-think their position.
"The AMA's message to anyone over the age of 60 is to go out and get your AZ vaccine," he said.
"It is proving itself to be an amazing vaccine with an incredibly good safety record, and it is protecting the lives of millions of people around the world today.
"We know that, the government has already said it, but we don't know when.
"So the best thing you can do right now is get your AZ."
Loading form...
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA4LTI5L21vZGVybmEtdmFjY2luZS10by1taXJyb3ItcGZpemVyLWVsaWdpYmlsdHktbm90LWZvci02MC15ZWFyLW9sZHMvMTAwNDE1OTc20gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDQxNTk3Ng?oc=5
2021-08-28 21:11:58Z
52781843784090
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Moderna vaccine to mirror Pfizer eligibilty, excluding Australians over the age of 60 - ABC News"
Post a Comment