Daryl Cheng, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Margie Danchin, Murdoch Children's Research Institute
It’s natural to have questions about the risks and benefits of COVID vaccines in young children. Here’s what you need to know ahead of Australia’s rollout.
On the horizon: A new omicron-focused version of the Moderna vaccine that may offer longer protection and a stronger immune response.
Global Justice campaigners in London stand by fake coffins to highlight global COVID-19 deaths. If pharma companies waived intellectual property rights, it would be easier for low- and middle-income countries to access COVID-19 vaccines.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Ronald Labonte, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Waiving patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines and drugs is still crucial to ensure access globally, but the waiver on the table at the June World Trade Organization meeting doesn’t do the job.
Boosters and vaccinating children mean we’re relying on two pharmaceutical companies to supply Australia’s COVID vaccines. That needs to change.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a visit at Afrigen Formulation Facilities in Cape Town, South Africa.
BENOIT DOPPAGNE/BELGA MAG/AFP/GettyImages
Moves by Moderna and BioNTech to make vaccines themselves in African countries signal that the companies aren’t considering licensing its technology to a third party for local manufacture.
South Africans wait for access to a COVID-19 vaccine.
(Shutterstock)
The new omicron variant of coronavirus has a number of mutations that may require manufacturers to update vaccines. The unique attributes of mRNA vaccines make updating them fast and easy.
The U.S. government funded a significant portion of the R&D behind the Moderna vaccine.
Peter Endig/picture alliance via Getty Images
Moderna claims its scientists alone invented the mRNA sequence used to produce its COVID-19 vaccine. The US government, which helped fund the drug, disagrees.
The Lagos State government recently approved some private health facilities to administer COVID-19 vaccines in the state.
Olukayode Jaiyeola/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Jennifer Juno, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Stephen Kent, The University of Melbourne
Protection from infection wanes over time. So boosters will offer extra protection and hopefully reduce the spread of the virus even further.
Discuss with your doctor whether or not you need a booster – and if so, which vaccine will work best for you.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News via Getty Images
As boosters are authorized for all three COVID-19 shots available in the US, the ability to swap out vaccine types looks to be a boon to the immune system.
There are very few situations where someone can’t have a COVID vaccine for medical reasons.
People getting vaccinated may still have questions about COVID-19 vaccines, like why it takes two doses — and then two weeks — to take full effect.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
A medical student answers questions he gets asked at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic: Efficacy versus real-world effectiveness, immune response and how the mRNA vaccines compare to vaccines already in wide use.
University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics.
Archa Fox, The University of Western Australia and Thomas Preiss, Australian National University
Doses of the Moderna vaccine will be available in Australia from mid-September. So if you’re in an eligible group you could be offered either Pfizer or Moderna. Here’s how they compare.
The Moderna vaccine has been provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia, with one million doses due in the second half of September, which will go to pharmacies.
Paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital and Associate Professor and Clinician Scientist, University of Melbourne and MCRI, Murdoch Children's Research Institute