The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has expanded to include the Moderna Bivalent (Blue/Green) vaccine as a third and fourth dose in people aged 18 years and older.
This is the first bivalent COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) the third regulator globally to approve this product.
The bivalent vaccine targets two different SARS-COV-2 viruses: the original 2020 strain and the Omicron variant BA.1.
Compared to the original vaccines, ATAGI found it triggers a modest improvement in the immune response against both strains. However, both the bivalent and original vaccines provide significant protection from severe disease against Omicron subvariant infections.
The bivalent vaccine will be introduced into the rollout in 3 tranches – on 10 October, 17 October and 24 October, as existing stocks of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are exhausted.
All sites currently participating in the COVID-19 vaccination program will be onboarded for the Moderna Bivalent vaccine. All sites will initially receive a maximum fortnightly allocation of 100 doses. Practices requiring allocation increase should contact Healthy North Coast for assistance.
The ordering window opened at 12:01am on 17 September for practices in tranche 1. Practices will need to order before midnight 23 September to commence vaccination on 10 October 2022. Sites in traches 2 and 3 can commence administering Moderna Bivalent once they have received their delivery and completed the necessary training.
ATAGI has not made any changes to its current third and fourth dose recommendations and is not advising any extra doses at this time. You can find those recommendations here.
ATAGI continues to recommend that people who are due for a COVID-19 dose book an appointment, using whichever vaccine is available to them.