Covid vaccine targeting original plus Omicron rolled out
AUSTRALIA’S first Covid vaccine targeting the original strain of the virus as well as Omicron will be rolled out from today.
Moderna’s Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron vaccine will be available to adult Australians who have not yet received a third or fourth dose of Covid vaccine (also known as the first and second booster).
A Department of Health and Aged Care spokesman told News Corp that 15 million Moderna doses, including variant specific vaccines, would be delivered by the end of 2022.
“This includes all currently available formulations of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine that have been provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia,” he said.
Latest reporting from the department shows 72 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over have now had a third dose of Covid vaccine.
In the week ending October 4, 36,242 Covid cases were reported in Australia – an average of 5177 cases per day.
The move to introduce the new vaccine follows provisional approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for its use in Australia, and a recommendation by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) last month that it be made available to people aged 18 years and over.
“In the coming weeks, patients will be able to access the Moderna bivalent booster as an option, along with the other registered Covid-19 vaccines,” ATAGI said in a statement.
“The Moderna bivalent booster and original Covid-19 vaccines (various brands) will continue to be available in the near future. Eligible individuals can receive whichever Covid-19 booster vaccine is available to them.
“ATAGI recommends that any person who has not yet received a first or recommended second Covid-19 booster dose, arrange to receive their booster soon, using either the Moderna bivalent booster or an alternative original vaccine.”
The Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron vaccine contains imelasomeran that targets the Omicron variant BA. 1, and elasomeran that targets the original strain of SARSCoV-2. The booster will be
rolled out from today.