Pfizer vaccine approved for use in Australia

In a major breakthrough, Australia has approved a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s when the jabs will begin, and who is first in line.

Australians will receive their first COVID-19 vaccines in late February after the Pfizer jab was approved for use, but the Prime Minister has warned it will not mean an immediate return to normal.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been granted provisional approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), exactly a year after the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Australia.

The government had aimed to administer the first of its 10 million Pfizer doses in mid-February, but that has been pushed back slightly due to production and delivery problems.

Vaccinations in parts of Europe have been delayed after Pfizer halved the number of doses delivered to some EU countries.

RELATED: Multiple jabs possible, elderly ‘likely’ to receive Pfizer

The Pfizer vaccine has been granted provisional approval for use in Australia. Picture: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP

Scott Morrison says Australians should take confidence from the ‘thorough and careful approach’ taken. Picture: News Corp

Australia’s rollout could be pushed back to early March if there were further delays, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians should take confidence from Australia’s meticulous approval process.

“Australia has taken the time, we have been watching and learning from the experience overseas,” he told reporters on Monday.

“We remain within the guard rails of the time frame that we set a few weeks ago but that will continue to come under challenge for events and circumstances that exist well beyond our shores.”

The vaccine has been approved for all ages over 16.

Those in the priority group – including elderly Australians, aged-care workers, and health workers – will be the first to receive the jab.

Vaccinations have been delayed across Europe after Pfizer halved the number of doses delivered to some EU countries. Picture: Phillipe Lopez/AFP

Indigenous Australians over 55 will be included in phase one of the rollout, with those under 55 to be included in phase two.

The Pfizer vaccine had a 95 per cent efficacy, and was considered the world’s most effective protection against COVID-19. It will be administered in two doses, at least 21 days apart.

But Mr Morrison warned “there are limits to vaccines”, playing down expectations the development would spark an immediate return to normal.

“Let me be very clear: this year 2021, will require us to continue to be vigilant,” he said.

“It will continue to require us to be engaging with all sorts of COVID-19 arrangements that can further mitigate the risk of transmission and keeping Australians safe (and) keeping Australia as open as possible.

Mr Morrison says Australians won’t be able to ‘jump on a flight to Bali’ immediately after receiving the vaccine. Picture: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg

“It is important to understand that once the vaccine starts, that doesn’t mean you can jump on a plane to Bali the next day.

“It doesn’t mean that the masks disappear … or the quarantine arrangements for return into Australia will end or anything like this.

“This will build. It will start at small scale, it will build up and it will happen over a period of time, as we have outlined over the course of this year.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said all Australians should have faith in the TGA approval, but lashed the wait for the vaccine rollout.

“Vaccines don’t save lives, vaccinations do. That’s why it’s important that this Pfizer vaccine is rolled out as soon as possible,” he told reporters on Monday.

“In the US, Canada, the EU and the UK, doses were administered within one week of approval.

“How long will Australian have to wait after the TGA has given the big tick?”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the TGA had been working around the clock to safely expedite approval, and an average of 80,000 doses per week would be administered once rollout began.

“Today’s another very important step forward in protecting Australians, in saving lives and protecting lives,” he said.

“Through the pandemic, vaccination rates have actually gone up, which if you had asked me at the outset, I would have thought would have been almost impossible,” he said.

“A critical part of our COVID-19 strategy is a focus on safety and the delivery of vaccines. That is why I am delighted and delighted that the TGA … has approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine in Australia.

“Because of the global risk, we have to proceed with a safe, secure vaccine program but Australians can have confidence if the best regulator in the world approves the vaccine, it is safe and effective.”

Mr Hunt also revealed the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine would likely begin in March, slightly earlier than first thought, subject to TGA approval.

But the company revealed it would ship fewer doses to Europe than expected, citing reduced yields from one of its manufacturers.

Greg Hunt said Monday was ‘an important day’ in the fight against COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Australia expected 1.2 million AstraZeneca doses from overseas, but Mr Hunt confirmed it would also receive fewer in March than first thought.

But he reaffirmed the government’s confidence its rollout program would be complete by the end of October.

The Pfizer jab had also sparked fears after a spate of deaths of very elderly and frail Norwegians who received it earlier this month.

Health Department secretary Brendan Murphy said the government was “concerned” about the reports, revealing there would be specific advice relating to elder Australians receiving the Pfizer jab.

It remained unclear whether pregnant or breastfeeding women would receive the vaccine, with the government to seek clarification from the Australian Technical Advisory Group.

Professor Murphy said there was not enough data on the vaccine’s impact on pregnant women, though the risk was “theoretically low”.

The Pfizer vaccine had been approved for emergency use in countries experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, including the US and the UK.

Professor Brendan Murphy says it is ‘very exciting’ Australia has avoided needing an emergency vaccine approval. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

But Professor Murphy said it was “very exciting” Australia had managed to avoid having to cut corners during the approval process.

“This is a very special day for Australia,” he said.

“We can now get that vaccine shipped to Australia, do the batch testing and start our vaccination program, according to our schedule.

“Once we get the local onshore production going, we will start to have a totally reliable supply chain.”

The federal government has faced pressure to expand its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio after failing to strike a deal for the highly effective Moderna jab.

Professor Murphy would not confirm whether the government had attempted to reach an agreement with Moderna, saying discussions were commercial in confidence.

But he said the discussions with all major vaccine companies were continuing.