Tag Archives: oceania

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Pfizer jabs to be available to children aged 12 to 15

The Pfizer vaccine will become available to adolescents aged 12 to 15 from September 13, following the release of new health advice this morning.

"This builds on the fact that since August 9 we have opened up vaccinations for immunocompromised children, children with Indigenous heritage, and children in remote communities as well as the addition of those on the NDIS," Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said. 

A vial of the Pfizer vaccine.

READ MORE: Victoria records 79 new COVID-19 cases, more regional exposure sites

"Importantly, what that means is we are in a position to ensure that all children and all families who seek their children to be vaccinated between the ages of 12 to 15, will be able to do so this year." 

Pfizer for children aged 12 to 15 will be available through "the usual channels" including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Commonwealth vaccination venues, and the GP network from September 13.

The announcement follows The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) revealing a change in its recommendations today.

"Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for all individuals from 12 years of age, extending the current recommendation for those aged 16 years and older," the group said in a release.

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"A two-dose schedule using Comirnaty (Pfizer), the only vaccine currently registered for use in Australia in this age group, is recommended.

"Recommendations on the use of Spikevax (Moderna) for adolescents will be finalised following the decision on provisional registration of Spikevax (Moderna) in this age group."

ATAGI had previously recommended the Pfizer vaccine for use in children aged 12 to 15 who had medical conditions that increased their risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19, as well as Indigenous adolescents, and people in remote communities in that age bracket.

ATAGI said that vaccinating people aged 12 to 15 would not only help them against COVID-19, but would help limit the spread of the disease in the community.

Mr Hunt said if the TGA and ATAGI approve the use of Moderna for people aged 12 and older, the government would also make that available. 

He urged parents not to wait for school vaccination programs, advising them to arrange Pfizer vaccinations for their children themselves.

"If you can have your child vaccinated, get them vaccinated," he said.

No plans to roll out vaccine for under-12s: CMO

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said there were no plans yet to make the vaccine available to under-12s.

"There is nowhere in the world that has a program for vaccinating children under the age of 12," he said.

"I spoke to the head of the TGA and he confirmed that no regulator in the world has received data in relation to under 12s.

"The second factor is what we rely on, parents, please get vaccinated. Older siblings will also be part of that cocooning effect. Teachers, please get vaccinated. Anyone who has anything to do with young kids, please, get vaccinated."

People at the Royal Exhibition Building Vaccination Centre in Carlton, Melbourne.

Call to get children back to school

Education Minister Alan Tudge has called on Victoria and the ACT to follow the NSW government's lead in laying out a roadmap back to in-person learning for school students. 

"Getting back to school is just so important for kids," he said.  

"The mental health consequences of children not being at school has just been devastating.  

"We know that from the official statistics, in terms of the presentations to, whether it be to Headspace centres, or to Kids Helpline, almost the doubling of calls to the Butterfly Foundation, which deals with eating disorders, which are such an insidious, insidious condition.  

"If we can get these schools open again, do so safely, get community activities open again and do that safely, then we can help address some of those mental health issues and enhance kids' learning as well." 

Vaccine threshold in reach

Mr Hunt said the 80 per cent vaccine threshold was within reach.

"The first doses are at 56 per cent, or 11.5 million," he said.

"In order to achieve the 70 per cent mark, we need to have 14.5 million Australians vaccinated.

"In order to achieve the 80 per cent mark, we need to have approximately 16.5 million Australians vaccinated, so that is less than five million to go from where we are.

"The capacity to achieve that 80 per cent is real and present."

Australians aged over 50 are almost at the 80 per cent mark for first doses.

More than 80 per cent of over-60s and over-70s have had their initial vaccine.

READ MORE: How to prove you've had your COVID-19 vaccinations

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Ancient four-legged whale species found in Egypt

In what used to be an ancient sea bed, palaeontologists have discovered the fossil of a four-legged whale.

The new species was discovered in rocks in the Fayum Depression in the Western Desert in Egypt; an area once covered by water.

The remains are about 43-million-year-old.

The new species, dubbed Phiomicetus anubis after the Egyptian god of death, was likely a top predator, researchers said after studying the fossil at Mansoura University Vertebrate Palaeontology Centre.

READ MORE: Tiny fossils reveal what NSW looked like 480 million years ago

https://twitter.com/heshamsallam/status/1430580258575724550

It was likely semi-aquatic and could move between land and the ocean, a paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B concluded.

The species provides an important step in early whale evolution, scientists said.

Phiomicetus anubis was so fearsome it was named after the Egyptian god of death, Anubis.

"Our new paper documents a new ancient amphibious four-legged cetacean from Egypt, which elucidates a transitional phase in early whale evolution," Founder of Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Centre Hesham Sallam wrote on Twitter.

The whale is believed to have been three-metres long with an estimated body mass of about 600kg.