Wednesday 6 July 2022 10:45 PM Covid-19: Aussies could be first in the world to get Omicron booster jab trends now
Australia is in line to be one of the first countries in the world to get the Omicron booster jab.
Moderna has developed a new vaccine targeting the Wuhan and Omicron strains of Covid-19, which is expected to be available in weeks if approved by Australia's top medical regulatory body.
The jab - which lab tests have shown to provide strong immunity - is currently being assessed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
'If approved, the company will be able to supply this new Omicron-containing bivalent booster vaccine within weeks- putting Australia among the first countries in the world to have access to this new Covid vaccine,' Moderna’s managing director in Australia Michael Azrak told News Corp.
Aussies are set to become one of the first in the world to get access to the Omicron booster. Pictured: A woman receives a Covid vaccine in Canberra in August
Health Minister Mark Butler said he wants Australia to be front and centre when it comes to accessing the latest vaccines.
'I’ve had encouraging discussions with Moderna and Pfizer about the challenges of the new sub-variants and the positive developments in vaccine technology,' Mr Butler said.
'My department is in negotiations about future supply arrangements, including for under 5-year-olds and the variant vaccines.'
Epidemiologists and other experts have been calling for the eligibility for a fourth Covid vaccination to be expanded to the wider population as the nation grapples with rising case numbers.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is expected to discuss at a Wednesday meeting whether more people should be eligible for a fourth dose.
A fourth vaccination is currently only available for people over-65 and those considered vulnerable.
New Omicron strains BA. 4 and BA.5 have quickly become the dominant variants sweeping across Australia, however, they appear to be resistant to existing vaccines - which are only designed to protect against the original Wuhan variant.
Existing Covid vaccines have begun to bank up across Australia, with more than 16 million unused doses sitting in warehouses and doctors clinics.
It comes as authorities warn the country's most populous state is heading for a resurgence of Covid cases driven by Omicron subvariants, as the NSW health minister labels anyone who hasn't received three vaccine doses as 'crazy'.
Moderna’s managing director in Australia Michael Azrak (pictured) said the vaccine will be available 'in weeks' if approved
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant expects the state's third wave to
