Australia Allows Use Of COVID-19 Vaccine Alert Pfizer-BioNTech

JAKARTA - Australia approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the handling of COVID-19 on Monday, January 25 local time. This made him the first to get an official permit in Australia.

"Our medical regulator is one of the earliest in the world to provide comprehensive approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

The Pfizer vaccine has been temporarily approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration's (TGA) for Australians aged 16 years and over. Australia will provide two doses of vaccine to each recipient at recommended times.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Pfizer had asked the Australian Government to anticipate the availability of a sustainable supply of vaccines. However, they will inform global production in mid-February for March and beyond based on weekly reports.

"Vaccination of the priority group with the Pfizer vaccine is expected to start at the end of February with 80,000 doses per week," he said.

The priority groups that will get vaccines are the elderly and media personnel. A total of 10 million doses of vaccine will be supplied to Australia from Pfizer.

Australia itself has set a target to provide 4 million doses of vaccine by April. As well, committed to planning to supply vaccines to Pacific Island countries.