AUSTRALIA'S COVID-19 vaccination (COVAX) campaign is set to move into its next phase in the coming weeks, after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be administered to children aged five to 11 years.
The decision will see children aged five years and older receive two 10g doses of the vaccine, rather than the 30g doses given to patients over the age of 12 years, from 10 Jan 2022 - subject to a positive recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, welcomed the TGA's decision, noting it would further boost national immunity against the pandemic virus, adding the community pharmacy sector would be available to support the rollout.
"Across the nation, pharmacists are an integral part of their local community, working to achieve positive health outcomes and with an emphasis on prevention, not just cure," he said.
"Community pharmacists stand ready to assist with the rollout of vaccinations for our children aged five to 11 years, to protect them against this worldwide pandemic threat, when the appropriate Australian Government approvals are in place."
Following the TGA's decision Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, said the Government had been working closely with Pfizer "to ensure Australian children will have access to this safe and effective vaccine as a priority".
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