TGA approves first protein-based booster for adults

The Therapeutic Goods Association has approved Novavax as the first protein-based Covid-19 booster vaccine for adults aged 18 and older.

Australia’s booster rate lags behind other countries, with more than 30 per cent of the eligible population yet to come forward for a third or fourth jab. Picture: AFP

The Therapeutic Goods Association has approved Novavax as the first protein-based Covid-19 booster vaccine for adults aged 18 and older.

It comes as Australia’s booster rate lags behind other countries, with more than 30 per cent of the eligible population yet to come forward for a third or fourth jab.

Novavax chief executive Stanley Erck said the approval of the company’s vaccine, Nuvaxovid, as a booster was significant.

“As Covid-19 continues to persist and evolve, we are pleased to be able to offer the first protein-based Covid-19 vaccine registered for use as both a primary series and now booster regardless of previous vaccine history,” he said.

Australia continues to record high numbers of Covid-19 cases, with more than 30,000 cases reported in the past 24 hours.

Infectious disease specialist Paul Griffin, who headed up several clinical trials for Novavax, said Australians needed to understand they weren’t fully protected from Covid-19 without three doses.

The boosters will come out of the 51 million Novavax doses already purchased by the federal g