CANBERRA, Sept 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian government urged Pfizer to seek approval, to administer its COVID-19 vaccine to children as young as five.
Greg Hunt, the Minister for Health, yesterday, encouraged Pfizer to have its COVID-19 vaccine approved for children aged 5-11 in Australia, after trials found the vaccine developed antibodies at levels equally as strong as teenagers and young adults.
“I am heartened by your advice that trials of the Pfizer vaccine are showing promise, in children under the age of 12,” he wrote in a letter to Pfizer’s Australia and New Zealand managing director, Anne Harris.
“I encourage and invite Pfizer to submit a parallel application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), for Australian regulatory approval at the earliest possible time.”
“Should TGA find the vaccine is safe and effective for children under 12, the Australian government is well placed to deliver this vaccine to this expanded age cohort.”
Australia today reported 1,681 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19, of which 17 were from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, reported 1,035 new cases, while Victoria recorded 628. Queensland recorded one new local case in the past 24 hours.
ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, said, compliance with Canberra’s strict lockdown remained generally high, but that low testing numbers were concerning.
“The potential risk from the cases announced overnight, particularly the number that has been in the community, is of concern,” he told reporters.– NNN-AGENCIES
