COVID-19 vaccination - summary for immunisation providers For health professionals Main navigation Australian Immunisation Handbook COVID-19 vaccines Immunisation coverage data and reports Education and training History of immunisation Immunisation schedules National and international resources NCIRS fact sheets, FAQs and other resources NCIRS webinar series Patient communication resources Specialist immunisation services SKAI - supporting health professionals NCIRS newsletters Vaccine safety 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 Updated recommendation on interval between SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination People are recommended to defer COVID-19 vaccination for 3 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection to optimise their protection. Related resource: Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines Updated recommendation on COVID-19 vaccination after treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies can be used for treatment in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or as pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis. Related resource: Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines Updated dosing schedule for Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends a primary dosing schedule of the adolescents/adults Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine of 2 doses, 8 weeks apart. Related resource: Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines Myocarditis and pericarditis Risks of myocarditis and pericarditis after administration of mRNA vaccines There is a link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines – such as Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) – and rare side effects of myocarditis and pericarditis. These side effects are reported to be seen more commonly in males under 30 years of age after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine. There is a dedicated Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna) and cardiac inflammation web page that provides information, guidance and detailed resources on these side effects. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) details Australian cases of myocarditis and pericarditis associated with mRNA vaccines in the COVID-19 weekly safety report. Related resources: Clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers Guidance on myocarditis and pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccines 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 World Health Organization tracker Information about SARS-CoV-2 variants can be found on the World Health Organization (WHO) website as WHO is tracking the variants. Related resource: WHO 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 Common questions answered NCIRS COVID-19: Frequently asked questions This webpage is updated regularly with new questions and answers, and advice as it becomes available. NCIRS COVID-19 and children: Frequently asked questions This newly developed webpage answers questions about COVID-19 vaccines for children, vaccine safety and effectiveness, and schooling. Decision aid (16+ years): Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine? This decision aid is designed to help you decide, in five simple steps, whether COVID-19 vaccination is right for you. Decision aid (5–15 years): Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine for my child? This decision aid is designed to help you decide, in five simple steps, whether COVID-19 vaccination is right for your child. COVID-19 vaccines – Is it true? This resource from the Department of Health answers common questions on COVID-19 vaccines and is available in 63 languages. VaxFACTS This resource from the University of Melbourne provides answers to some key questions about COVID‑19 vaccines and vaccination in short video clips. 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