Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: Australia’s latest deal explained

The federal government has secured 25 million more Covid vaccines to bolster supplies. Here’s how it will impact the rollout.

The Moderna Covid vaccine. Picture: AFP

The federal government has struck a deal with Moderna to secure 25 million of its vaccine doses. It expects 10 million will arrive on Australia’s shores before the end of the year. The remaining 15 million, which will arrive next year, will help protect against variants of the virus.

The vaccine has yet to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, but Moderna says an application will be lodged soon.

The Moderna vaccine, like the Pfizer shot, is an mRNA vaccine and is different from the AstraZeneca jab which the government now recommends against being administered to Australians under the age of 50.

When will the doses arrive?

Of the initial 10 million doses, the government anticipates one million could arrive in the third quarter of the year – between July and September. The 10 million doses will vaccinate five million people with two doses each. The remaining nine million are scheduled to arrive in the last three months of the year.

Why do we need more?

While Australia has already purchased enough vaccines to inoculate the entire population, the additional doses will serve as back-up if there are delays with the arrival of additional Pfizer jabs. But Health Minister Greg Hunt says there is every indication that Pfizer will meets its contractual agreements and deliver the doses on time.

Mr Hunt says the additional Moderna doses will also serve as the “foundation” of Australia’s booster strategy, noting the vaccine is the most advanced in development of booster shots. If the government receives all 40 million of it‘s the contracted Pfizer doses by the end of the year, the Moderna doses will be used as booster shots to protect against variants of the virus and be given to Australians of all ages.

Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy says while of Australia’s vaccines are highly effective an protecting against severe disease even with virus variants, the country needs to be in a position to offer booster shots if needed.

He also says while trial data does not exist, there is no reason to think you can’t “mix and match vaccines.”

“There is no good scientific reason why you can’t boost with one and then have another vaccine later. In fact, there may be some benefit in doing that,” he said.

This would mean Australians who were inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine or Pfizer jab could also receive a Moderna booster shot.

Is the Moderna vaccine in use anywhere else?

Moderna’s Covid shot has been approved for use in the US, the United Kingdom, Canada, European Union and in Singapore.

What does it mean for the timetable of the rollout?

The government has stressed the Moderna deal does not change the timetable of Australia’s vaccine rollout.

Australia is currently pursuing a “dual-track” strategy where available Pfizer is administered to those aged under 50, except in rare circumstances as outlined by national cabinet.

The government’s complete over-50 vaccination program begins on Monday, when those in the age cohort will be able to receive an AstraZeneca jab from their GP.

While the government has acknowledged vaccine hesitancy is a concern, it is urging as many Australians to be vaccinated as early as possible.

A medical worker prepares a Moderna Covid vaccine shot in the US. Picture: AFP

What other vaccine doses do we have?

The government also has a contract with Novavax for 51 million doses, but regulatory delays have cast doubt over whether it will be delivered from September as initially expected.

After the government’s health advice regarding AstraZeneca changed, it secured an additional 20 million Pfizer vaccines which are due to arrive in the last three months of the year. But the government is hoping to expedite their arrival so that some are delivered in the third quarter. Australia has contracted a total of 40 million Pfizer doses.

Australia has also joined COVAX Facility as part of an international effort to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.