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Highlights
- Novavax, a protein vaccine, is now available for Aussies.
- The vaccine is 90% effective against mild, moderate, and severe illnesses.
- The Australian government has secured 51 million doses of Novavax.
Novavax, the first protein vaccine, is now available for Aussies, according to a report by the Ministry of Health.
The vaccine, which is the fifth to be authorised in Australia, maybe maintained for up to three months in a regular fridge, unlike other doses that must be kept at extremely low temperatures. To supplement the vaccine deployment, the Australian government has secured 51 million doses of Novavax.
According to the WHO, this vaccine has a 90% effectiveness against mild, moderate, and severe illnesses. The vaccine is gradually being rolled out at community pharmacies, general practices and state clinics.
How to get Novavax?
As per the health ministry, Novavax will be available for bookings on health.gov.au or via your own practice, pharmacy, or state clinic. The Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder also allows Australians to arrange an appointment for the Novavax vaccine.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt stated that Novavax is a protein vaccine with 100% approval from the TGA.
For the next week and a half, the Novavax vaccines will be distributed to over 3500 general practitioners, pharmacies and state and Commonwealth clinics around the country, said the minister.
How is Novavax different from other vaccines?
Novavax is a protein vaccine which utilises a non-infectious protein element of the virus produced in a lab. Post-vaccination, immune cells identify the vaccine protein as foreign agent and start an immune response against it.
Who all can receive Novavax vaccine?
Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended Novavax for people aged 18 and up for their primary vaccination course, which consists of two doses spaced three weeks apart.
Although Novavax is not yet approved for children or as booster doses, research into these applications is continuing.
What are the side effects of Novavax?
Though Novavax differs from mRNA vaccines, this also has similar side effects as others after a person is jabbed. These side-effects include soreness around the injection site, fatigue, headache, and muscle ache.
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Bottom Line
As Novavax officially joins the national rollout on Monday (14 February 2022), thousands of Aussies have demanded the federal government to make COVID-19 rapid antigen tests (RATs) free for everyone.
Today, a petition signed by more than 150,000 people was tabled in parliament demanding universal access to the tests. As per media reports, there were 16 COVID-related deaths on Monday (14 February 2022), with 14 in NSW and two in Victoria.
