The move brings Australia into line with the United States - one of its largest competitors in the international student market - and ahead of the United Kingdom in approving the Chinese-made vaccine for travellers but not locals. China has not approved any internationally made vaccines,including Pfizer or AstraZenca,for residents or travellers. The TGA has yet to recommend approving China’s other major vaccine,Sinopharm.
Sinovac has a lower efficacy rate of 51 per cent against symptomatic coronavirus infection but has recorded 100 per cent efficacy against severe COVID-19 and 100 per cent against hospitalisation,according to Brazilian phase three data published by the World Health Organisation. Pfizer has a 91 per cent efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19.
The TGA on Friday also recommended the approval of the Covidshield Astra Zeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India. There are 17,000 Indian international students also waiting to return or take up their studies in Australia,along with more than 9000 Australian permanent residents.
The decision to approve Sinovac also has significant implications for travellers from south-east Asia,where it is the primary vaccine available,along with South America,where Chinese vaccine diplomacy has seen hundreds of millions of doses delivered across the continent.
Mr Morrison said on Friday that Australia’s international border was expected to open from November on a state-by-state basis as they reach the 80 per cent vaccination threshold.
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