Covid-19 Vaccination Service

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Australians aged over 16 years and the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for Australians over the age of 18 years. People over the age of 65 will be considered on a case-by-case basis for the AstraZeneca vaccine, with consideration of age, co-morbidities and their environment. The first round of Pfizer vaccinations will begin on February 22. The AstraZeneca vaccine is expected to commence roll-out in late March. The Australian Government is seeking medical advice from an expert panel on whether Australia should secure additional vaccines e.g. the Moderna produced vaccine. 

The TGA considers the safety, quality and effectiveness of every ingredient in a vaccine before registering the vaccine for use in Australia. The provisional approval pathway is a process that allows for temporary registration of promising new medicines and vaccines where the need for early access outweighs the risks. The TGA carefully assess the results of clinical trials and the way in which the trials were conducted. As a further check, the TGA laboratories assess the quality of every batch of a vaccine before it can be supplied in Australia. The TGA works closely with international regulators to collaborate and share information as part of the evaluations process.

No COVID-19 vaccines have been created using live viruses, nor can you catch or shed COVID-19 after vaccination.  All three COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia have been shown to be effective and safe.

Novavax:  The Novavax vaccine is an adjuvanted protein-based vaccine.  It contains the spike protein that is found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19), along with what is known as an adjuvant.  An adjuvant is an ingredient that helps to ensure that your immune system recognises the spike protein as being foreign, and responds strongly to produce the antibodies that protect you against COVID-19.

Protein-based vaccines have been in use within Australia and internationally for several decades, and a common example of a protein-based vaccine is the influenza (flu) vaccine.  The specific influenza vaccine used in people aged 65 years and over also contains an adjuvant, to ensure that people in this age group are well protected from influenza infection.

Currently, the Novavax vaccine can only be given in Australia to people aged 12 years and over. Two doses are needed for the primary course, ideally 8 weeks apart. This vaccine provides its full protection 2 weeks after then second dose.

The Novavax vaccine does not require special ultra-cold storage conditions; it is stored at normal refrigerator temperatures (2°C to 8°C) and expires 6 months after date of manufacture.

Moderna: The Moderna vaccine is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. This is a different way of developing vaccines; conventional vaccines are often produced using either fragments or weakened forms of the virus, but mRNA vaccines use only parts of the virus’s genetic code. mRNA acts as a set of instructions, and tells your body how to produce fragments of the COVID-19 virus known as spike proteins.  When the spike proteins are produced from mRNA ‘instructions’, the proteins are then ‘displayed’ on the surface of some cells in your body.  Your immune system recognises these proteins as being foreign, and starts preparing its own defences known as antibodies to fight coronavirus.  You will need two doses 4 weeks apart, although this can be reduced to 14 days at an absolute minimum.

When spike proteins are produced by your body and displayed on the surface of cells, it creates a stronger immune reaction and better protection than conventional vaccines.

mRNA vaccines such as Moderna have been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and can be given to eligible people over 12 years of age.

The Moderna mRNA vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-15°C to -25°C), however can be stored for up to one month at normal refrigerated conditions.  The Moderna vaccine is being manufactured in the United States, Switzerland and Spain.

From late 2022, only bivalent Moderna vaccines are available in Australia is Moderna.

Pfizer: The Pfizer vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and almost mirrors the Moderna vaccine in how it works and in effectiveness.  It has also been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and can also be given to eligible people over 5 years of age using a special paediatric vaccine.

The Pfizer mRNA vaccine must be stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-70°C), however can be stored for up to one month at normal refrigerated conditions.  The Pfizer vaccine is being manufactured in the United States, Belgium and Germany. Newer bivalent Pfizer vaccines may provide modestly higher protection against the Omicron variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.

The AstraZeneca vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.  It is not an mRNA vaccine; instead, it uses a virus harmless to humans to deliver the virus’ genetic code, for the body to respond by creating antigens in a similar way to the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine. Recipients require two doses administered between 4 and 12 weeks apart. It can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated conditions between 2°C and 8°C. The AstraZeneca vaccine is currently manufactured by Australian-headquartered pharmaceutical company CSL.

Whilst the AstraZeneca vaccine can be used in eligible people over 18 years of age, mRNA vaccines such as Moderna or Pfizer are preferred for people under 60 years of age.  This is due to an extremely rare, but still present, risk of a particular type of blood clot in younger people.  Whilst the risk of a catastrophic event from the AstraZeneca vaccine is extremely low – less than 1 in 1 million, or roughly the same risk as being struck by lightning – mRNA vaccines do not carry any risk at all of blood clots and are therefore preferred in people under 60 years of age.

No, the vaccines are not interchangeable. Your second dose must be of the same vaccine. Tests have not been conducted on the efficacy of the two doses being from different vaccines.

Yes, everyone, even those who have had the vaccine, will still be required to practise social distancing, maintain good hand hygiene, and adhere to any other relevant local protocols.

Any vaccine approved for use in Australia is first rigorously assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. It tests vaccines for safety, quality and efficacy before they can be used in Australia. Millions of people in countries around the world, including the United States and United Kingdom, have now been vaccinated with the Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. More information can be accessed here or watch this video below explaining the approval process.

The Australian Government have stated that they will provide all COVID-19 vaccines free of charge to all Australians.

If you have any concerns about whether the COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for your circumstances, you should speak to your GP first.

Early trials of COVID-19 vaccines have reported mild side effects such as pain at the injection site, fever, headache or muscle aches. All these side effects were temporary. The COVID-19 vaccines have not been created with live viruses, which means it is impossible to be infected with either vaccine as a result of vaccination. If you have any concerns about whether the vaccine is suitable for your particular medical circumstances, you should speak to your GP first.

If you have any concerns about whether the vaccine is suitable for your particular medical circumstances, you should speak to your Pharmacist first. Prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine you will be provided within information about the COVID-19 vaccination and will have the opportunity to ask the Pharmacist Immuniser any questions.

All vaccines take some time to offer protection. It is anticipated those who have the COVID-19 vaccine will be protected after about two weeks of the first dose. The Novavax, Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will require a follow-up second dose. Ongoing booster doses may be needed according to ATAGI recommendations. Check with your Ramsay Pharmacist on whether you are up to date with your booster doses according to your circumstances.  

Any vaccine can have people who will not be protected from disease after having the vaccination, the vaccines are not 100% effective in preventing you from catching COVID-19. They create antibodies which can fight the COVID-19 infection to stop you becoming severely unwell. You may still be able to pass COVID-19 on, but the period of time of transmission would be reduced.

Advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI) is that, from 3 months after the second vaccine dose, protection against infection and protection against infecting others begins to decline. A booster dose is recommended for most individuals to maintain good protection against milder disease, and ongoing booster doses may also be required according to ATAGI recommendations. Check with your Ramsay Pharmacist on whether you are up to date with your booster doses according to your circumstances.

Neither the COVID-19 vaccines nor any current influenza vaccines have not been created with live viruses, which means it is impossible to be infected with either as a result of vaccination.

No, those vaccines are targeted at creating different antibodies for different viruses.

It is a legal requirement that information on everyone receiving the COVID-19 vaccine given to every person is recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Yes, all Australians are encouraged to have their seasonal influenza vaccine in addition to the COVID-19 vaccine. It is advised to still get your flu vaccine, and you can now receive your flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.

Booster doses are additional doses for the general population, to maintain high protection against becoming infected with COVID-19. Protection against becoming infected starts to decline several months after each dose, and if you become infected, you become more likely to transmit infection to other people.

The Omicron variant was first identified in Australia in early December 2021, and newer bivalent vaccines have been shown to provide modestly better protection against Omicron variants than older vaccines. However a booster dose with any COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to substantially increase protection against infection from the Omicron variant. If more than 6 months has passed since your last booster dose, and more than 6 months has passed since confirmed COVID-19 infection, contact your Ramsay Pharmacist to see if you are eligible for a 2023 booster dose. If more than 3 months has passed since your last booster dose, and more than 3 months has passed since confirmed COVID-19 infection, you may still be eligible to receive a booster dose depending on your vaccination history. Your Ramsay Pharmacist is the best person to contact for advice. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have received TGA approval to be used as a booster dose, and both are considered equally effective – neither is significantly more effective than the other.

People who are severely immunocompromised – such as those who have received an organ transplant, people undergoing chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy to treat cancer, and people taking medicines that severely suppress their immune system are not as well protected after the usual 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines rely on your immune system to recognise the spike proteins produced by your body from the vaccine and launch a response, by creating antibodies against the actual virus that causes COVID-19. These antibodies are what protects you against COVID-19 infection. People who are severely immunocompromised do not have as strong an immune response, and produce fewer antibodies. People in this group need 3 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to get the same protection as 2 doses in other people. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred for use as third doses, although the AstraZeneca vaccine can be used instead if needed. Third doses should be given between 2 and 6 months after the second dose. If you think you may fall into this group, talk to your Malouf Pharmacist, your GP or your specialist who can help you decide if you need a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

People who have received a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine because they are severely immunocompromised should still receive a booster (fourth) dose, 3 months after their third dose.