Covid-19 Australia updates: Victoria enjoys new freedoms amid a jump in Pfizer side effect cases

There has been a jump in rare side effects linked to the Pfizer vaccine, as Victoria has eased restrictions further despite huge case numbers.

Australia has recorded 60 cases of a rare heart condition linked to Pfizer in the past week.

Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) are rare effects on the heart that may occur after vaccination with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration Covid-19 vaccine weekly safety report, released on Thursday, revealed there have been 235 reports to October 24 assessed as likely to be myocarditis from about 21 million doses of Pfizer – an increase of 60 since last week.

“Our analysis of Australian data indicates there is a higher than expected number of cases of myocarditis in vaccinated compared to unvaccinated individuals Pfizer. This is similar to findings from other drug regulators overseas,” the TGA says.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been linked to a rare condition that causes heart inflammation. Picture: AFP

The medicines watchdog says in Australia, myocarditis is reported in nearly one out of every 100,000 people after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. While it is more commonly reported in young men and teenage boys after the second dose (6.7 cases in 100,000 people) it remains rare.

Cases usually occur within 10 days and resolve after a few days following treatment and rest. The TGA advises people to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms that could suggest myocarditis or pericarditis.
This includes: chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeat), fainting or shortness of breath, particularly if they occur within one to five days of vaccination.

“ATAGI advises that people who develop myocarditis or pericarditis attributed to their first dose of Comirnaty (Pfizer) should defer further doses of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine and discuss this with their treating doctor, the TGA says.

The TGA also reported one new ‘probable’ case of a blood clot linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in the past week involving a 78-year-old woman from Victoria. This takes the total to 157 cases and nine deaths from nearly 12.9 million doses of AstraZeneca.

VIC CASES CONTINUE TO RISE

Victoria has recorded 1355 new Covid-19 cases and 11 deaths as the state continued to ease restrictions.

Despite the state having not quite hit the 80 per cent double dose vaccination benchmark, authorities proceeded with winding back restrictions on Friday, which will mean 10,000 punters can attend Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

As of Saturday, 91.46 of eligible Victorians have had one dose of their Covid vaccine, while 78.75 per cent are fully vaccinated.

There are 747 people in hospital, 135 of which are in intensive care. Authorities say 83 people currently require ventilation.

Saturday marks a day of eased restrictions in Melbourne, in line with the rest of the state.

We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.

Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.

More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/wWOwlqPzB2

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 29, 2021

It came as the state recorded 1656 new cases of Covid on Friday. There are 738 people in hospital with 130 in intensive care – with 85 patients on a ventilator.

Under the eased restrictions, regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne were reunited after months apart in time for the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

Masks were scrapped outdoors and most indoor settings where attendees are fully vaccinated.

Most outdoor settings will remain with a limit of up to 500 people, where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.

The same indoor and outdoor settings will also apply to weddings, funerals and religious gatherings if all attendees are fully vaccinated, but there will be caps of 30 people for weddings, funerals and religious gatherings if vaccination status is unknown.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there was a sense of “optimism” in the wake of the lockdown lifting.

“You can sense the pride in what‘s been achieved. And after everything it’s taken to get here, we absolutely deserve to feel that way,” Andrews said.

“We’ve gone through such a hard time together, this pandemic has been exhausting in every sense of the word.”

The easing of restrictions came as the state continues to see persistent high cases around the mid to high 1000s this week.

Victoria’s Covid response commander Jeroen Weimar said about 500,000 Victorians were yet to receive their first jab, and he urged them to come forward for the vaccine.

Weimar said they were in “real danger of being left behind” as the state reopened.

NSW CASES DECLINE

NSW has recorded 236 new Covid-19 cases and three deaths, with just days to go before international travel resumes for the state’s residents.

From Monday, fully vaccinated Australians returning from overseas will not need to quarantine, and those wanting to head overseas will not need an exemption to do so.

NSW COVID-19 update – Saturday 30 October 2021

In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 93.5% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 87% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 77,271 tests pic.twitter.com/o1zfZbcaBw

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 29, 2021

As of Saturday, 93.5 per cent of eligible NSW residents have had one dose of a Covid-vaccine, while 87 per cent are fully vaccinated.

There are 343 people currently in hospital, of which 81 are in intensive care.

It comes as a trendy Bondi pub emerged as the source of a new cluster, to which 10 cases have so far been linked.

NSW Health are urging anyone who visited the Tea Garden Hotel on October 23 from 7.30pm to closing time to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Further information will be released later on Saturday.

QANTAS REVEALS CHANGE FOR TRAVEL

Qantas international flyers will be able to check-in for their flight four hours early when scheduled international flights resume on Monday.

The airline has revealed how it will welcome back flyers when international borders reopen next week for the first time in 20 months.

A customised “digital travel guide” designed to help passengers navigate travel requirements before they leave home leads the charge.

This involves mails or texts sent seven days, four days and one day ahead of departure with customised checklists, reminders and links to relevant information. And over coming weeks, the International Air Transport Association digital travel pass will be ready for passengers to upload vaccination certificates and negative Covid test results.

Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas, with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“Over the coming weeks, the digital experience will include a seamless integration with the IATA Travel Pass to help customers travel stress free, by enabling them to upload their vaccine and testing documents and be cleared to fly before they get to the airport. Airport check-in for international flights will also open an hour earlier than pre-Covid to allow extra time,” the airline said in a statement.

Qantas is also rolling out a new menu from mid-November with popular plant-based meals such as potato and celeriac gratin with roast fennel, peas, mushrooms and onion sauce and Ratatouille Pasta Bake with Herb Crumb, Cauliflower & Green Beans.

And it’s adding a signature cocktail, the Qantas Sky Spritz, developed by SOFI featuring Australian botanicals including Davidson Plum and Finger Lime.

Fly Well kits containing a face mask, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes will continue to be available on board.

Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer Stephanie Tully said customers can expect a mix of new initiatives and a return of many favourites.

“We have redesigned our digital booking experience with world-first technology to help our customers easily navigate the post Covid-19 world of international travel and guide them through each step, including regular checklists sent via text ahead of their flights”.

Originally published as Covid-19 Australia updates: Victoria enjoys new freedoms amid a jump in Pfizer side effect cases