Australian Regulators Back Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines for ‘Kraken’ Variant

A woman receives a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in a file photograph. (Johanna Geron/Reuters)

Australia will offer new COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron, otherwise known as the Kraken, according to an announcement from federal Health Minister Mark Butler.

The government approved the monovalent vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna on Nov. 20 based on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

In a statement, Mr. Butler said that the new vaccines have been found to provide “modest improved protection” against the COVID-19 strains circulating in the community, with Pfizer’s version available for those aged five and older and Moderna’s for those aged 12 and older.

“While we are no longer in the emergency phase of this pandemic, COVID-19 is still present, and people should continue to follow the advice of the experts from the ATAGI, including getting vaccines as required,” Mr. Butler said.

“Vaccination reduces the risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, particularly for older adults and those who are immunocompromised.”

Only a quarter of Australians have received their 2023 booster shots amid a recent increase in cases, authorities say.

ATAGI has confirmed that people who have already received their 2023 COVID-19 vaccinations do not require additional doses, as they remain well protected against severe disease.

ATAGI will continue to assess evidence on COVID-19 vaccines, infection rates, and the risk of severe disease, with further recommendations expected in early 2024.

Providers can order the new Kraken vaccine, with doses available from Dec. 11, 2023.

Masks Mandates Return

This comes as Western Australia (WA) reintroduces mask mandates, with staff and patients ordered to wear masks in high-risk clinical areas in public hospitals from Nov. 20.

These include wards where vulnerable patients are being treated and intensive care, haematology, oncology, organ transplant, and renal dialysis units. For lower-risk areas, masks are still recommended for all.

WA Chief Health Officer Dr. Andy Robertson said this was a result of an uptick in COVID-19 cases since early September.

“COVID is very much still with us and my advice for the community remains the same—stay home if you are sick and do not visit high-risk settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals if you have cold or flu symptoms,” he said.

Dr. Robertson said the public should consider wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings or where physical distancing is not possible and get a booster COVID-19 vaccination.

Queensland Takes a Different Stance

In contrast, Queensland health authorities have resisted calls to recommend the public start wearing masks again, but indicated people were free to do so.

The state’s Chief Health Officer (CHO) John Gerrard warned against overstating the risk of the latest COVID wave.

He said a recommendation about mask-wearing would be disproportionate to the risk, noting “the public health emergency is over,” he told reporters.

Variants of Omicron, including dominant strains EG.5 (Eris) and BA.2.86 (Pirola) are circulating in the community, along with a new variant dubbed XCH.

The Queensland CHO said it was clear the latest waves were less severe, saying the majority of people in hospital were over 65 and did “not receive a booster” in 2023.

“COVID-19 is not going away, it is one of a number of respiratory viruses we are going to have to deal with in an ongoing fashion including Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), etc.,” he said.

Dr. Gerrard also noted the public health emergency declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) ended on May 5.