Health Minister Greg Hunt expects to be able to make the Moderna coronavirus jab available to young Australians as the vaccination program ramps up in coming weeks.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has already given the green light for the Pfizer vaccine to be available for 12-year olds and above, with bookings to start from September 13.
“This fortnight we’re expecting to get advice from the TGA on Moderna for 12 to 17 year olds … I’m hopeful that will be added which will give a second vaccine,” Mr Hunt told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda.
“As additional vaccines come on board, we will make sure that every Australian has the opportunity to be vaccinated at the earliest possible time.”
As of Saturday, more than 56 per cent of Australians aged 16 and above had had one jab, while nearly 34 per cent had had two doses.
Under the national COVID-19 recovery plan, the easing of virus restrictions will begin when double-dose vaccinations of 70 and 80 per cent in over 16-year olds have been reached.
Children go uncounted
Labor’s health spokesman Mark Butler believes it would be better if over-12s were included in those targets.
“I have said, as have a number of premiers, that they should be counted as part of the 70-80 per cent threshold,” he told ABC’s Insiders program.
“If they are eligible for the vaccine, other groups are really only gaining eligibility for Pfizer vaccines now … what is the argument for not including them. They get the virus, they can get unwell, they can pass it on to other people.”
Meanwhile, Victoria announced 92 new cases, a record number during its latest lockdown.
NSW and the ACT, the other two jurisdictions currently under lockdown, will release their latest figures later on Sunday.
On Saturday NSW announced 1035 cases, a record under its lengthy lockdown, while the ACT had 26.
-AAP
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