The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the Commonwealth continue to closely monitor the situation in New Zealand. The Commonwealth and AHPPC are receiving daily briefings on the matter. Based on updated information from New Zealand today, Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd has recommended the Commonwealth not extend the pause in…
Community pharmacies around Australia are being invited to join the nation-wide effort to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to millions of Australians over the coming months, as work continues to protect more people from the deadly pandemic. The Australian Government is committed to providing access to safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19, and the distribution…
Australians with a rare, fatal heart condition will soon have subsidised access to a ground-breaking medicine for the first time, thanks to its new listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 February, Uptravi® (selexipag) will be PBS listed for the first time to treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), for use in combination…
Australian adults living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) will soon have more affordable access to a life-changing treatment option, thanks to its expanded listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). On 1 February, the Government is expanding the listing of Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine) to include patients who are diagnosed with ADHD after they turn…
E&OE… Topics: COVID-19 update, Travel arrangements with New Zealand, Vaccine rollout; CSL production of AstraZeneca; EU delays; Germany’s claims on AstraZeneca; Novavax; Britain/UAE border closure; South African variant of the virus; National booking system GREG HUNT: I’m pleased to be able to provide an update both in terms of COVID-19 and cases in…
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) discussed the COIVD-19 situation in New Zealand and the current 72 hour travel pause on green safe travel zone flights from New Zealand to Australia at its meeting on 28 January 2021. The AHPPC was joined by representatives from the New Zealand Government including the New Zealand Chief…
The Australian Government’s $23.9 million public information campaign to encourage Australians to get a COVID-19 vaccine begins today. The campaign will keep Australians fully informed and up to date about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines as they become available, including when, how and where to get the jab. This follows Australia’s…
E&OE… Topics: suspension of travel arrangements with NZ GREG HUNT: I’m joined by Professor Michael Kidd, the Acting Chief Medical Officer, and we’re here to report on advice from the medical expert panel, or AHPPC, received during the course of the afternoon to the Government and upon which the Government has acted.…
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has today provisionally approved the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia. The Pfizer vaccine has met strict standards for safety, quality and efficacy. The TGA provisional approval is for individuals 16 years of age and older. Two doses will be required – at least 21 days apart. A priority…
Australian families have clearly demonstrated that we are a vaccination nation, with childhood immunisation rates reaching record levels in December 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, parents followed expert health advice and continued to take their children to receive their shots, pushing five-year old vaccination rates beyond the aspirational target of 95 per cent coverage. Australia’s…