Australians may soon have more vaccine choice, with the Novavax jab expected to be approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, who is the co-ordinating the nation’s vaccine rollout, said some people may have been holding out for the Novavax to become available.
“We think that approval is imminent, and again we are ready to distribute it across the country,” Lieutenant General Frewen said.
“We think there’s around 1-2 per cent of the population that have been holding out for Novavax.
“That’s the choice they have made, but once it’s approved it will be available … they will be able to get it as quickly as they can.”
Novavax was developed using older, protein-based technology that some members of the public may feel more comfortable taking.
Australia already has a deal in place for 51 million doses of Novavax to be available immediately should it get the nod by relevant health bodies.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Tuesday that adding the new vaccine to the government’s roster would result in more of the total population being vaccinated.
“If that’s 200,000 Australians who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to be vaccinated but feel more comfortable, then that will have been significant,” Mr Hunt said.
“And those doses that we don’t use, we will absolutely share with our Pacific neighbours.”
