- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has given the green light for Pfizer to be used in 16 and 17-year-olds as a booster shot, the first one approved for the age group
- The Pfizer jab can be used as a booster following a two-dose course of any other approved vaccine
- The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will now decided when they will be able to receive the booster
- The Australian Government has secured more than 151 million booster doses for delivery over the coming year
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has given the green light for Pfizer to be used in 16 and 17-year-olds as a booster shot.
This is the first booster shot approved for those under 18 years of age and is currently used in the US, Israel and the UK.
Like adults, the Pfizer jab can be used as a booster following a two-dose course of any other approved vaccine.
However, the expert immunisation group, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), will decided when they will be able to receive the booster.
A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer lasting, helping prevent the virus from spreading and new variants from emerging.
“Significantly, this builds on the progressive opening of eligibility under the booster program, and what we are seeing on Monday, it is that this program will move from four months since your second dose to eligibility at three months,” Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said.
“That’s already begun in some state and territory clinics, but it will open that program up nationwide.”
Notably, Australia was one of the first countries in the world to commence a whole of population COVID-19 booster program.
Now, over 7.1 million Australians have already received a booster dose over recent weeks.
The Australian Government has secured more than 151 million booster doses for delivery over the coming year.