- Australia’s health regulator has officially approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use
- The go-ahead issued by the TGA follows a comprehensive approval process and allows Australians aged 16 years and over to receive the vaccination
- Vaccinations expected to begin in late February for priority groups, with two doses required at least 21 days apart
- These priority groups will include quarantine and border personnel, frontline health workers, aged care and disability staff and residents
- In addition to the Pfizer vaccine, Australia expected to have the capacity to produce the AstraZeneca candidate onshore in late March
- The news follows Panasonic’s entry last week into the $22 billion vaccine storage race with its ultra-cold freezer boxes