Mr Hunt told the managing director of Pfizer Australia Anne Harris in his letter that should the vaccine be approved for under 12s by Australian regulators,the younger cohort would receive vaccines as a priority.
“I note the announcement that Pfizer International is now intending to apply for regulatory approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 12. I encourage and invite Pfizer to submit a parallel application to the TGA for Australian regulatory approval at the earliest possible time,” Mr Hunt said.
Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery officer Professor Allison McMillan said Australia has more than enough supplies to give vaccines to children under the age of 12 as soon as it was approved.
“We are ready and keen to hear from them in relation to the assessment of the vaccine for use in Australia for five to 11 years,” she said.
Pfizer has to apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for approval,and the regulator would then go through its assessment process. Depending on when Pfizer submits its application,Professor McMillan said young children could potentially start getting vaccinated before Christmas.
“The TGA will take all of those internationally agreed-to guidelines about assessing that clinical data. When that’s done,then we can start working to the administering of this vaccine to children,five to 11,” she said.