It’s the latest step in the effort to protect younger Australians and follows introduction earlier this month of vaccinations for children aged 5-11.
Pharmacy Guild of Australia National President, Professor Trent Twomey, says it is crucial that Australia maintain world’s best practice with vaccinations.
Provisional approval for the Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd COVID-19 vaccine, COMIRNATY, for use as a booster in individuals aged 16 and 17 years old, is a logical next step in this process, Professor Twomey says.
The move, by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, follows approval last October for COMIRNATY as a booster in individuals 18 years and older.
The next step to make these booster doses available to 16-17 year olds will be new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Professor Twomey says Australia is maintaining world’s best practice on vaccinations against COVID.
“Community pharmacists are finding a consistent level of enquiry from parents and from 16-17 year-olds themselves on how best to keep themselves safe.
“We are close to the start of the school year. The greater the level of vaccination, the less the chances will be of COVID variants spreading through a school population,” Professor Twomey says.
“Provisional approval of this Pfizer booster for 16-17 year olds is another important step forward for the nation,” he says.