Australia Approves 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced they have provisionally issued approval to AstraZeneca Pty Ltd for the experimental AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. This registration means the AstraZeneca - Oxford University co-created vaccine has met the TGA’s rigorous standards for safety, quality, and efficacy and will be provided for free to all Australian residents.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been provisionally approved for 18 years and older people. Australia's priority groups can start receiving this vaccine in early March 2021, stated the TGA on February 16, 2021.

"TGA's regulatory approval allows the second dose to be administered from 4 to 12 weeks after the first. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended that the first and second dose interval is 12 weeks. However, if this interval is not possible, for example, because of imminent travel, cancer chemotherapy, major elective surgery, a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses can be used," added a related press release.

'Australians can be confident that the TGA's review process of this vaccine was rigorous and of the highest standard. The decision to provisionally approve the vaccine was also informed by expert advice from the Advisory Committee on Vaccines, an independent committee with expertise in scientific, medical, and clinical fields including consumer representation.'

The next steps in the process will include batch testing of all doses, establishing cold storage facilities for the vaccine, training health providers to administer it, and finalizing distribution sites.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will be distributed through many more locations, including general practice clinics, GP respiratory clinics, vaccination clinics, and pharmacies. The National Rollout Strategy details how the vaccine will be distributed more widely over the coming months.

The TGA previously granted provisional approval to Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY, making it the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia.