VICTORIANS over the age of 18 are eligible to get their vital third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after only three months instead of four, as the new American vaccine ‘Nuvaxovid’ was approved by the Federal Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Boosters are becoming a growing importance as states, including Victoria, have introduced booster mandates in the recent few weeks for essential workers, with an additional 1.2 million Victorian’s who will now become eligible.

“I think we’re close to a change in policy that will simply reflect the fact that in order to be fully protected, you need three doses, not two doses plus an optional extra,” Premier Daniel Andrews said when announcing the reduction of intervals.

The Premier stressing the importance of the booster vaccine to achieve “full vaccination”, noting only 28 per cent of people over 18 had received their booster shot.

The reduced time frame has changed twice in the past month, from five months to four in mid-December, to accommodate the surge of cases and to provide greater protection, which prevents chances of infection, severe symptoms and death from COVID-19.

With healthcare workers anticipating an incredibly high demand and a ‘Booster Blitz’ this weekend, across Victoria, some vaccination centres are increasing open hours and engaging extra workers and equipment to handle the exponential pressure.

Almost half of Victorians aged over 70 have received their booster shot, compared with 37 per cent of those in their 60s and 33 per cent of those in their 40s and 50s.

Pregnant women and immunocompromised people who had their vaccinations three months ago, are strongly recommended to get the vaccination as soon as they can.

Children aged five to 17 years will not be eligible to get their booster shots, but are still eligible to get their first and second doses.

“Victoria has already delivered more than $3 million in Vaccine Enhancement Grants to 263 GPs and pharmacies across the state, with 106 of those participants also receiving additional grants worth $10,000 each to support more staff resources this weekend,” a report from the Victorian Government stated.

Booster shots offer additional protection, on top of pervious vaccinations which effectiveness diminishes over time.

The recommend doses for boosters are the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations, despite what vaccine patients initially had, however the option for the AstraZeneca is available under special circumstances.

Boosters are free and available by booking online at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking/ or by phoning your local pharmacy.   

New Vaccine available

AUSTRALIA will soon have four COVID-19 vaccines available, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approving Massachusetts-based biotech company’s Novavax vaccine under the brand name ‘Nuvaxovid’, which will become Australia’s first approved protein vaccination.

The brand Novavax will be administered for active immunisation to prevent COVID-19 for individuals 18 years or older, under its provisional registration in Australia.

“TGA reflects Novavax’s increasing momentum around the globe and represents the first-protein based COVID-19 vaccine authorised for use in Australia,” Novavax chief executive, Stanley Erck said.

In authorising the new vaccine, the TGA said Australians could be confident that its “review process of Nuvaxovid was rigorous” and the decision to provisionally approve the vaccine was informed by expert advice from the Advisory Committee on Vaccines.

The Commonwealth has ordered 51 million vaccines with an additional 10 million doses to be administered to unvaccinated Australians.

The TGA recommends that the vaccine is taken with two primary doses, with a three-week interval in between, and at the current moment Nuvaxovid is not available as a booster, however studies for the vaccine as a booster shot and paediatric administrations are continuing.

The new technology has currently been granted authorisation in countries including South Korea and India and has also been granted an emergency use listing from the World Health Organisation and European Union.

Around 1500 Australians participated in clinical trials for the development of the Novavax vaccine.