Australia’s trusted independent immunisation experts

COVID-19 vaccination - summary for immunisation providers

For health professionals

 

The Clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers is now available on a dedicated page on the Australian Government Department of Health website in a more accessible and easy to read format. It has the latest updates from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), clinical information, COVID-19 vaccines doses and recommendations, vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, and additional clinical considerations.

On this page, we provide additional relevant information for the benefit of immunisation providers. We will be updating this page as new information becomes available. (Last updated: 12 May 2022)
 

Also see - NCIRS COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions and NCIRS COVID-19 and children: Frequently asked questions for answers to most commonly asked questions. The FAQs are updated regularly.

 

Latest advice - as at 29 April 2022

Myocarditis and pericarditis

COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance 

  • AusVaxSafety (as at 2 May 2022)

    AusVaxSafety is conducting comprehensive active safety monitoring of all COVID-19 vaccines being used in Australia. The latest safety surveillance data report on adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination for all participants, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    Over 6.3 million participants have responded to surveys, with 44.6% reporting an adverse event following COVID-19 vaccination. Most common adverse events include injection site pain, fatigue, headache and other expected side effects following immunisation.

    Related resource: AusVaxSafety COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance

  • Therapeutic Goods Administration

    The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is closely monitoring suspected adverse events following vaccination with both COVID-19 vaccines in use in Australia. The latest weekly safety report of the TGA provides detailed information about the reported side effects for COVID-19 vaccines, total adverse event reports, reporting rates per 1000 doses by jurisdiction, and most commonly reported vaccine side effects. 

    The most frequently reported suspected side effects continue to be events that were seen in the clinical trials and are commonly experienced with vaccines generally.
     

    Related resource: TGA COVID-19 vaccine safety weekly report

COVID-19 variants of concern

Vaccine ingredients 

  • Comirnaty, Vaxzevria, Spikevax and Novavax

    A summary table comparing the COVID-19 vaccines in Australia is available under COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions on the NCIRS website. In addition, the vaccines ingredients and efficacy are as follows:  

      Vaxzevria (COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) Red cap Comirnaty (Pfizer) – 12 years and older
    Purple cap    		 Comirnaty (Pfizer)  – 5-11 years and older
    Orange cap
         		 Spikevax (Moderna)
    Red cap    		 NUVAXOVID COVID-19 VACCINE (adjuvanted)
    Ingredients
    (List of excipients)
    • Histidine
    • Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate\
    • Sodium chloride
    • Magnesium chloride hexahydrate
    • Disodium edetate (EDTA)
    • Sucrose
    • Ethanol absolute
    • Polysorbate 80
    • Water for injection
    • ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
    • 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
    • Distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)
    • Cholesterol
    • Potassium chloride
    • Monobasic potassium phosphate
    • Sodium chloride
    • Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate ehydrate
    • Sucrose
    • Water for injections
    • ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) (ALC-0315)
    • 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide (ALC-0159)
    • Distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC)
    • Cholesterol
    • Trometamol
    • Trometamol hydrochloride
    • SucroseWater for injections
    • Heptadecan-9-yl 8-[2-hydroxyethyl-(6-oxo-6-undecoxyhexyl)amino]octanoate
    • Cholesterol
    • Distearoylphosphatidylcholine
    • 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methoxypolyethylene glycol-2000 (PEG2000-DMG)
    • Trometamol
    • Trometamol hydrochloride
    • Acetic acid
    • Sodium acetate trihydrate
    • Sucrose
    • Water for injection

     
    • Matrix-M adjuvant, which contains:  Quillaja Saponaria saponins fraction Quillaja Saponaria saponins fraction cholesterol 
      phosphatidyl choline 
      monobasic potassium phosphate 
      potassium chloride 
    • Dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate 
    • Monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate 
    • Sodium chloride 
    • Polysorbate 80 
    • Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment) 
    • Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment) 
    • Water for injections 

    Resource: COVID-19 vaccine product information

Answering patients' questions and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines

Case numbers and statistics 

Other resources

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We acknowledge that the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is on the land of the traditional owners the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, and recognise their culture, history, diversity and their deep connection to the land. Together, through research and partnership, we aim to move to a place of equity for all. NCIRS also acknowledges and pays respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations from which our research, staff and community are drawn.

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NCIRS, Kids Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145 Tel (612) 9845 1433  |  Fax (612) 9845 1418  |  ABN 53 188 579 090

Our website meets the criteria for credibility and content as defined by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

We acknowledge that the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is on the land of the traditional owners the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, and recognise their culture, history, diversity and their deep connection to the land. Together, through research and partnership, we aim to move to a place of equity for all. NCIRS also acknowledges and pays respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations from which our research, staff and community are drawn.

Affiliated with: