COVID vaccination for children aged 5–11 to begin in January Pfizer’s paediatric vaccine has received its final approval, with ATAGI’s clinical guidance recommending a dosage interval of eight weeks.
TGA provisionally approves Moderna as COVID-19 booster Australia’s medicine and therapeutic regulator has given the green light for a second vaccine to be used as a booster in adults.
First Omicron studies hint at enhanced role for boosters The first laboratory studies have emerged on Omicron and its impact on vaccination, suggesting ‘extensive but incomplete’ loss of protection – but the picture for severe disease remains unclear.
Vaccine myocarditis risk reaches 1 in 10,000 for adolescent boys But while the rate of Pfizer-related myocarditis continues to increase in males aged 12–17, research cited by the TGA indicates the risk is still dwarfed by the threat COVID-19 poses to this cohort.
COVID-19 vaccines and children: What GPs need to know The TGA has paved the way for COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5–11 from early next year. What part will general practice play?
How vaccine companies are responding to Omicron Scientists are scrambling to test and potentially update their vaccine candidates against the latest COVID variant of concern.
COVID vaccine indemnity threshold reduced The change will enable more people to access compensation for vaccine injury, according to the Federal Health Minister.
TGA updates post-COVID vaccine myocarditis rates As many of Australia’s remaining vaccine-hesitant patients express concerns over rare side effects associated with mRNA vaccines, the TGA has broken down rates of myocarditis cases following Pfizer doses.
Processing for COVID-19 vaccine compensation scheme to begin next month Around 10,000 potential claims related to adverse reactions have been registered since September.
UK study shows surging efficacy after COVID-19 booster The country’s first real-world study since its booster program began shows it is having a significant impact on protection for over-50s.