AstraZeneca to change vaccine name to Vaxzevria in Australia
The TGA hopes the name change will help to smooth the pathway for Australians vaccinated with AstraZeneca to travel overseas.
AstraZeneca has changed the brand name of its Covid-19 vaccine to Vaxzevria after it was granted approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The pharmaceutical giant hopes the name change will help to smooth the pathway for Australians vaccinated with the domestically produced Vaxzevria to travel internationally.
Vaxzevria is the brand name already in use in Europe and the UK, approved by both the European Medicines Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK.
The use of its previous name (Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) had triggered concerns that some European countries or the UK may not recognise the Australian-produced AstraZeneca vaccine, or that it would be seen differently to the same vaccine made overseas.
In a statement released on Thursday, the company said its vaccine will now be known as Vaxzevria to bring it in line with other regulatory bodies.
“The brand name Vaxzevria has now been registered for use in Australia for AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine,” it read.
“Use of the Vaxzevria brand name should help simplify international travel for people vaccinated with AstraZeneca’s vaccine.
“The vaccine has previously received emergency authorisation from the World Health Organisation. As such Vaxzevria, including Vaxzevria produced at CSL in Australia, is a valid vaccination for travel in Europe.”
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