TGA officials to consider Covid-19 booster application from Pfizer

The rollout of booster jabs could happen surprisingly soon, health officials indicated ahead of a crucial vaccination meeting on Monday.

Australia’s medical regulator will consider an application from Pfizer to use existing vaccine as a Covid-19 booster. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Australia’s medical regulator will consider an application from Pfizer to use extra shots of the vaccine to boost protection against Covid-19.

Deputy chief health medical officer Michael Kidd said a Therapeutic Goods Administration committee would meet on Monday to look at the new data submitted by Pfizer.

“Pfizer has submitted the data, which the TGA needs to look at, and that will be happening on Monday,” Professor Kidd said on Saturday.

“Whether there is further information required from Pfizer, we’ve got to wait and see what the TGA determines.”

He expected the rollout of the booster shots would be as early as November 8, with priority given to aged care, disability care and frontline health workers.

People who have had two Covid-19 vaccine shots will likely get their third, booster jab six months after the last one.

“I don’t want to pre-empt what the committee is going to decide, but once we have formal approval – if that’s provided by the TGA – we also have to get the formal recommendations from ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation),” Professor Kidd said.

Deputy chief health medical officer professor Michael Kidd says a Therapeutic Goods Administration committee will meet on Monday to look at the new data submitted by Pfizer. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

The TGA is yet to receive information from AstraZeneca on booster shots.

“As further vaccines are approved for use in Australia, we may well see the so-called mix and match occur with people who may receive two doses of one vaccine and a booster dose of another vaccine,” he said.

“It remains to be seen as to what is recommended as providing the best protection and the best support over time.

“Obviously the TGA and ATAGI are following the research, which is underway around the world with a number of these vaccines, but also the real life experience, which is happening in other countries as well, and all that will help to inform future recommendations.”

Professor Kidd said the purpose of boosters was mainly to slow down the spread of the virus.

“There is little evidence at this time that protection against severe disease wanes over time in those who are double vaccinated,” he said.

“But what we do know is that antibody levels fall over time and there is a risk of breakthrough infections where vaccinated people may become infected and at risk of transmitting Covid-19 to others.”

Third doses of Covid-19 vaccines are already being offered to severely immunocompromised Australians. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Daniel Pockett

Third doses of Covid-19 vaccines are already being offered to severely immunocompromised Australians.

But authorities said those doses were not necessarily defined as boosters as they were aimed at lifting the level of protection in those people up to the same level as others who only required two doses.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday 86.6 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one dose and 73.1 per cent were fully vaccinated.

The federal government will from Sunday night start running its latest advertising campaign encouraging those who haven’t got the jab yet to do so.

Covid-19 task force commander Lieutenant General John Frewen said the “spread freedom” campaign aimed to “highlight the close links between vaccination and either regaining those freedoms that we all want to enjoy, or protecting those freedoms in the states where we haven’t yet seen outbreaks”.

“We now have enough vaccines distributed around the country to fully vaccinate, double dose, all Australians who want to get vaccinated,” he told reporters on Sunday.

Covid-19 task force commander Lieutenant General John Frewen says vaccination rates among Indigenous Australians are rising encouragingly. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I will also remind people that if you have not started your vaccination course, at best case, it is a six-week process to get the full protections of the vaccines.

“You have to get the first dose, get the second dose, then wait a couple of weeks, and if you want to be fully protected before Christmas, then you need to start coming forward now.”

The ACT is leading the nation, according to the latest federal government figures breakdown released on Saturday, with 95 per cent of the territory’s 16-plus population single jabbed and 86.2 per cent fully vaccinated, followed closely by NSW at 93 per cent and 84.4 per cent respectively.

Victoria also has strong numbers, with 90.2 per cent single dosed and 73.1 per cent fully vaccinated.

So does Tasmania, with 86.6 per cent single dosed and 71.6 per cent double jabbed.

Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia are all yet to reach 80 per cent on first doses and 70 per cent on second doses.

“Additionally, we are now up over 60 per cent of our First Nations peoples with first dose and we are closing on 50 per cent of our Indigenous people being fully vaccinated,” General Frewen said.