The Novavax COVID-19 protein vaccine has been approved by the ATAGI as a booster alternative to mRNA vaccines for Australians aged 18 and over. The ATAGI stated (pdf) that the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine currently has “limited evidence” on its safety and immunogenicity as a booster, but is acceptable as a third shot if “no other COVID-19 vaccine is suitable for that individual.” Since the protein vaccine’s rollout on Feb. 11, the country is seeing encouraging uptake of first-course vaccination in Australians “who had chosen, for whatever reason, not to be vaccinated earlier,” Deputy Secretary of the TGA, John Skerritt said on Feb. 23. The vaccine is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to be provisionally approved by the TGA and the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed on Mar. 2 that the organisation is also “considering” the vaccine to be approved as a heterologous booster for all Australians following a primary course …