Australia approves Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be used

Australia’s medical regulator has accredited the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be used beneath a proper course of, one of many first international locations to finish a complete approval, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated on Monday.
The vaccine had been provisionally accredited by the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) for Australians aged 16 years and over, Morrison instructed reporters, noting it was a 12 months because the first coronavirus case was detected within the nation.

Vaccination of precedence teams is anticipated to start in late February, at 80,000 doses per week, Health Minister Greg Hunt instructed reporters.
Two doses might be required – a minimum of 21 days aside, a authorities assertion stated.
Australia will administer each doses of the vaccine on the really useful time.
“You don’t start what you can’t finish, and finishing the job involves two doses,” stated Morrison, including a digital system would guarantee folks get two doses.

He cautioned there are limitations to what the vaccines can do and that the rollout wouldn’t imply border restrictions can be lifted.
Quarantine and border personnel, frontline well being staff, aged care and incapacity workers and residents would be the first group to obtain vaccines.

Australia expects to have the capability to supply the AstraZeneca vaccine onshore beginning late March.

“I welcome the TGA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine, with our own Australian experts finding it is safe, effective and of a high standard,” Morrison stated in a press release.