Ruqayyah Snyder
COVID-19 vaccines have been crucial in the fight against the pandemic, saving an estimated 1.4 million lives in the WHO's European region alone. However, the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve, impacting the effectiveness of existing vaccines and immunity from past infections. Australia has already updated its vaccines four times, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is now considering a fifth iteration – a vaccine targeting the JN.1 omicron subvariant. While Novavax has been approved, the focus is currently on the approval of the Moderna vaccine, with one million doses set to arrive in Australia in November 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of search | 18 October 2024 |
| Country | Australia |
| Vaccine name | Moderna (Spikevax) |
| Number of doses | 25 million |
| Number of doses (for September 2021) | 10 million |
| Dose interval | 28 days |
| Target age group | 18+ |
| Target age group (under review) | 12-17 years |
| Previous vaccines | Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Comirnaty (Pfizer) |
| Alternative vaccine under review | Novavax |
| Alternative vaccine doses (recommended) | 2 |
| Alternative vaccine dose interval (recommended) | 3 weeks |
| Alternative vaccine status | Approved for primary course of vaccination |
| Alternative vaccine status (under review) | Booster dose, paediatric patients |
| Alternative vaccine target group | Pregnant and breastfeeding women, severely immunocompromised people |
| New vaccine target | JN.1 omicron subvariant |
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What You'll Learn
Moderna vaccine coming to Australia
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA has granted provisional approval for the vaccine for adults aged 18 and above. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is yet to approve the vaccine, which is already being administered in the UK, the EU, Canada, the US, and Singapore.
The Australian government has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. Of these, 10 million will be for primary vaccination and 15 million will be for booster shots. In September 2021, the government announced that 1 million doses of the vaccine would arrive in Australia the following month. These doses were secured from European nations and were sent directly to community pharmacies across the country.
The Moderna vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart. The vaccine has been found to be 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19. The vaccine has not been associated with the extremely rare blood clotting disorder that has been observed in a small number of people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The introduction of the Moderna vaccine will allow younger Australians to choose which vaccine they want to receive. The Australian government aims to vaccinate 70% of Australians aged over 16 before the end of 2021. As of August 2021, more than 56% of Australians aged 16 and above had received one jab, while nearly 34% had received two doses.
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Novavax COVID-19 vaccine
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has been provisionally approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The Novavax vaccine is a protein-based vaccine, the first of its kind to be approved for COVID-19 in Australia. It contains the actual spike protein, unlike mRNA vaccines, which contain genetic material that tells the body how to make the spike protein.
The Novavax vaccine has demonstrated an efficacy rate above 90% and a favourable safety profile in large clinical trials. It is predicted to play an important role in COVID-19 vaccines due to its strong protection and fewer side effects. The approval of Novavax is significant because it fills a void in the global pandemic response, addressing the vaccine inequity in low and middle-income countries with its inexpensive production and logistical advantages.
However, there have been delays in the rollout of the updated Novavax vaccine in Australia. The previous batch of the ancestral Novavax vaccine expired on January 31, 2024, and a formal decision on the updated vaccine has not been made yet. Novavax also cancelled an agreement with the Australian government in March 2024 to distribute doses scheduled for 2023, citing a decline in demand due to newer vaccines.
The Novavax vaccine is now approved for individuals 18 years and older as a primary vaccination, with ongoing clinical trials exploring its use as a booster, in younger people, and in combination with influenza vaccines.
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JN.1 omicron subvariant
In Australia, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is considering the fifth iteration of a COVID vaccine – a shot targeting the JN.1 omicron subvariant. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has continued to change rapidly, affecting how well immunity generated from both vaccination and past infection protects us. This issue is often referred to as "immune evasion".
The TGA’s website indicates applications for two JN.1 vaccines are currently under evaluation: Spikevax and Comirnaty. The FDA initially advised vaccine manufacturers to update their COVID vaccines to target JN.1, but later recommended it would be preferable to target the KP.2 strain instead (FLiRT). Moderna and Pfizer have since developed vaccines targeted to KP.2 and received FDA emergency use authorisation.
The omicron subvariant JN.1 was first detected in August 2023 and drove a significant wave of infections in Australia over the summer. As of January 2024, the CDC estimates that up to 86% of new COVID-19 cases stem from the latest mutation. The virus continues to evolve so rapidly that "our immune systems have not been able to keep up," according to experts. However, the most recent vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax are all expected to help lower the chances of serious illness or hospitalisation from JN.1.
The 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines more closely target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant and are updated to give the best protection from the currently circulating strains.
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XBB vaccines
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has continued to mutate rapidly, affecting how well immunity is generated from both vaccination and past infection. This issue is often referred to as "immune evasion". In response, Australia has updated its vaccines four times. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is now considering a fifth iteration—a vaccine targeting the Omicron JN.1 subvariant.
The most recent update, in late 2023, saw Australia revert to a single-component vaccine targeting the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron. The XBB vaccine was developed in response to the emergence of the XBB.1.5 subvariant, which caused a significant wave of infections in Australia. The XBB vaccine is a monovalent vaccine, meaning it is designed to protect against a single variant, in this case, the XBB.1.5 subvariant.
The XBB vaccine is recommended for adults who are at high risk of severe COVID-19, including those aged 65 and older, those with underlying medical conditions, and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. While the XBB vaccine is considered effective in protecting against the XBB.1.5 subvariant, it may offer limited protection against newer variants such as FLiRT and FLuQE (or KP.3).
As of 2025, ATAGI recommends that adults receive a COVID-19 vaccine every 12 months, while adults aged 75 and older should be vaccinated every six months. However, COVID-19 vaccination is no longer recommended for healthy children and adolescents under 18, as the risk of severe illness in this age group is extremely low, and the benefits of vaccination are not considered to outweigh the potential harms.
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mRNA options
The Australian government is considering a fifth iteration of the COVID-19 vaccine, targeting the JN.1 omicron subvariant. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is evaluating applications for two such vaccines: Spikevax and Comirnaty. The mRNA vaccines Moderna and Pfizer have been widely used in Australia, with billions of doses distributed globally. These vaccines have been proven safe and effective, saving millions of lives and helping to tame the COVID-19 pandemic.
MRNA injections deliver instructions to cells to produce specific proteins that trigger the body's immune response, training it to naturally fight disease. They can be designed and manufactured more quickly than conventional vaccines. Moderna and Pfizer have also been working on vaccines targeted at the KP.2 strain, which has been granted emergency use authorisation by the FDA.
Despite the success of mRNA vaccines, there is some opposition to the technology. The Trump administration has thrown doubt on its safety, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scrutinising it and cancelling funding for future discoveries. This has caused confusion and worry among scientists and drug companies.
In Australia, individuals are encouraged to discuss vaccine options with their healthcare provider. All COVID-19 vaccinations are free, and it is safe to receive the COVID-19 vaccine alongside other routine vaccinations. The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for most adults aged 18 and older, especially those aged 65 and older or at high risk for severe COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine was approved for use in Australia in November 2022. Moderna is also set to arrive in Australia, with the TGA granting provisional approval for adults 18+.
Novavax is a traditional protein-based vaccine that has demonstrated superior efficacy and fewer side effects compared to mRNA vaccines.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) COVID-19 Working Group is yet to approve the Moderna vaccine. The Australian government has secured 25 million doses, and the TGA is reviewing data to support its use in children aged 12-17 years.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is evaluating applications for two JN.1 vaccines: Spikevax and Comirnaty. These vaccines target the omicron subvariant JN.1, which drove a significant wave of infections in Australia during the summer of 2023.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has continued to evolve, affecting the effectiveness of existing vaccines. The TGA is considering a fifth iteration of the COVID-19 vaccine to address this issue.
