MODERNA Australia's COVID-19 vaccine needs to be approved for use in adolescents before it is rolled out through community pharmacies in the coming weeks, Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Trent Twomey, believes.
Welcoming the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA's) decision to grant provisional approval for the two-dose mRNA vaccine, which has been earmarked to be administered by community pharmacists, Twomey said the profession needs "to have it approved for adolescents from the get-go".
"We welcome this action by the TGA and look forward to Moderna approval for Australians aged 12 years and over, before it becomes available in pharmacies in about six weeks' time," he said.
Twomey added there was "ample data" to support both the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in younger patients.
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia National President, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, also backed the provisional approval, noting the first doses of the Moderna vaccine will be administered through community pharmacy, but called for further improvements to access of COVID-19 vaccines.
"Whilst this is welcome news for Australians, it is important that governments continue to expand access to vaccines. This includes allowing pharmacists to administer all COVID-19 vaccines where supply is available," he said.
"In order to ensure we achieve high rates of vaccination and overcome vaccine hesitancy, we must utilise all pharmacists, all TGA-approved vaccines, and all practice settings.
"Pharmacists are one of our most accessible frontline health workforces and community pharmacies are open beyond business hours and on weekends. Pharmacists must play a key role for Australia to complete this vaccine rollout."
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