Department of Health Secretary Professor Brendan Murphy said the multi-dose vials required extra training for all vaccine providers.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
Appearing before a parliamentary committee on Friday afternoon,Department of Health secretary Professor Brendan Murphy said he has complete confidence in both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has not yet made a decision on what age range the AstraZeneca vaccine will be approved for,but it is likely it will include those aged over 65.
“I happen to be over 65 and I’m going to have the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Professor Murphy said.
Both vaccines come with logistic challenges. Professor Murphy said the multi-dose vials for both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were “a significant cause of risk and anxiety” for the rollout.
“It is a significant risk because nobody in Australia that gives vaccines at the moment is experienced with multi-dose vials,” Professor Murphy said.
The Pfizer vials contain six doses. The vials of the AstraZeneca vaccine holds 10 doses.
Compared to a 5 per cent wastage rate from single-dose vials,10-dose vials have wastage rates between 15-25 per cent,according to a World Health Organisation guidance document published in April 2019.