The first batch of 3 million vaccine doses has landed in Sydney last Monday.
The Novavax vaccine is the first protein-based vaccine on the global market and the fifth approved in Australia.
With the country’s current vaccination rate of 95.2%, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said that “hopefully this will encourage those people in that less than five percent to come forward and be vaccinated.”
The vaccine has received a green light by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), currently waiting to be further examined by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
The new vaccine will be rolled out to Australians on February 21 in local pharmacies and GPs.
Australia has ordered 51 million doses of the vaccine distributed to 3,000 medical practices and pharmacies across the country.
The vaccine is not yet approved to be used as a booster.
Australians aged 18 and over will be eligible to receive two doses of the vaccine three weeks apart. Vaccinations are set to be rolled out later this month.
Today, Australia is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world against COVID-19. Currently, over 48 million vaccines were administered in the country.
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