Accessing the COVID-19 vaccine overseas
How can Australians overseas access a vaccine as part of Australia’s domestic vaccine roll out plan?
Consistent with the Prime Minister's statements in his press conference on 7 January 2021 regarding Australia's COVID−19 vaccination rollout strategy, the rollout of the vaccine will be carried out in Australia. In the first instance, it is expected there will be limited doses available within Australia. There will also be specific storage and handling requirements for all vaccines, in order for them to remain safe and efficacious. The press conference statement is available here. The Department of Health is continuing to work across government, and with medical and legal experts, to examine options for future vaccination sites. Information about COVID−19 vaccines is available on the Department of Health website.
What is the Australian Government’s advice on seeking/receiving a foreign vaccine overseas?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), part of the Department of Health, formally assesses the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, including vaccines, prior to their approval for use in Australia. To date, the TGA has received applications and is undertaking a rolling review of the data as it becomes available for several vaccine candidates. Updates on the current status are available here. The Australian Government cannot provide formal advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have not been assessed by the TGA. The TGA however recognises that there are comparable overseas regulators, in which it has confidence in their assessment processes. Australian government agencies operating overseas also place considerable weight on the decisions of these agencies, in the absence of a TGA approval. Comparable overseas regulators include the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Union’s European Medicines Agency (EMA). The full list of comparable overseas regulators is available from the TGA website.
How will a vaccine impact international travel to Australia, including quarantine requirements and inbound and outbound travel restrictions?
At this time, vaccination against COVID−19 does not change mandatory 14-day quarantine for travellers to Australia at designated facilities in the first port of arrival.
Australia’s vaccination policy provides more detailed information on COVID-19 vaccine delivery domestically once approved for use in Australia.