AUSTRALIANS are being urged to hold off on drawing conclusions about the efficacy of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine, based on incomplete data, by the Commonwealth's Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Paul Kelly.
In an interview with Nine's Today program this morning, Kelly expressed dismay at reports published in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, that the Australasian Virology Society was calling for an immediate pause in plans to rollout the vaccine, which is set to form the bulk of Australia's COVID-19 immunisation prorgam.
"I'm concerned once controversy is opened up and people make comments based on interim results from a Phase III trial," he said.
"Once that sort of conversation starts, of course people will be wondering about if it's the right decision, [but] we'll be guided by the actual medical advice.
"We will be guided on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advice, they'll have all the information they need to make decisions about what vaccines are safe, what vaccines are effective and what vaccines are of high quality.
"[The AZ vaccine] is, on the evidence we have so far, a safe and effective vaccine, and we'll know more about that once the TGA has done all its work."
Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President, Anthony Tassone, backed the CMO's stance and urged the community to have confidence in the TGA's approval process.
"With the current locally acquired cases and overall active cases we have, Australia has the benefit of being able to take the time necessary through our independent medicines regulator the TGA, to evaluate all of the data from clinical trials and the early roll-out of international vaccination programs before a final approval is given to administer to our citizens," he said.
"The Federal Government has also tried to diversify our vaccine portfolio with what they've purchased in order to not have 'all of our eggs in one basket'.
"The comments made by Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly expressing caution by drawing conclusions on incomplete data are sensible.
"We should have confidence in the regulatory approval process to take its course in an environment of already time-compressed drug discovery, development and emergency administration and roll out overseas."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Jan 21
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 13 Jan 21
