The Moderna bivalent Covid vaccine introduced in Australia

A new Covid booster has started being rolled out in Australia which is anticipated to give recipients broader immunity to the deadly virus.

A new Covid booster shot which is anticipated to give better and broader protection against the deadly virus has entered Australia’s vaccine rollout.

Moderna’s new Spikevax Bivalent Omicron vaccine is a combination shot comprising equal elements of the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and Omicron BA. 1 variant.

The Department of Health has confirmed it would be integrated into Australia’s existing Covid booster program from Monday.

"ATAGI recommendeds the vaccine as a booster in people aged 18 years or older - anyone who hasn't had third or fourth vaccine jabs should consider getting the Moderna bivalent as a booster shot..."

We're in a booster slump - let's do this!@Globalbiosec
https://t.co/e5ak2wydZO

— AMA President (@amapresident) October 8, 2022

It is anticipated the shot will provide broad immune protection against Covid and Omicron subvariants.

“The Moderna bivalent vaccine generates a modestly higher level of antibody response against multiple SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants (approximately 1.6-1.9 times) including BA. 1 and BA.4/BA.5, and a similar antibody response against the original virus, compared with the Moderna original booster vaccine,” the Department of Health and Aged Care said in a statement in September.

The Moderna Covid vaccine known as Bivalent. Picture: RINGO CHIU / AFP

It was granted provisional registration by the Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia last month for use as a booster dose in people aged 18 years and older.

It is still recommended booster doses should be given to an individual at least three months after their most recent vaccine or previous Covid infection.

The Moderna bivalent vaccine is only registered for use as a booster shot. It is the first bivalent (combination) shot to be made available in Australia.

The safety of the Moderna bivalent vaccine for adults appears to be similar to the original vaccine, according to the Department of Health.

The duration of the protection it provides is unknown, though there is the potential it could last for longer.

As of Wednesday last week, 72.2 per cent of the eligible population (people aged 16 years and over) had received their booster dose.

The vaccine is expected to give improved protection. Picture: RINGO CHIU / AFP

More than 41 per cent of the eligible population (people aged 30 years and over) had also received their fourth dose.

The Moderna bivalent vaccine is available from Monday at all sites listed on the government’s “COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder”.

Originally published as The Moderna bivalent Covid vaccine introduced in Australia