Novavax Covid vaccine is here

Bass Coast Health now has the Novavax vaccine available and say it’s critically important to get vaccinated or receive your booster as soon as possible.

Omicron Covid case numbers in Bass Coast dropped at the end of February but have started to climb back up in the past week.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child stressed the importance of remaining ready for the next Covid variant and the next influx of cases, saying it was the experts view that it is a case of when, not if.

“To protect our community as we head towards the winter months, and in particular focus on protecting the more vulnerable members of our community, we urge all community members to make sure they have had three doses of vaccination,” Ms Child said.

BCH is now offering the Novavax Covid vaccine at the Wonthaggi Town Hall to people aged 18 and over, to further increase vaccination rates in the community.

“I strongly encourage anyone who is yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to please do so.

“Vaccination is your best defence against falling seriously ill. It also minimises the likelihood of passing Covid on to others,” Ms Child said.

“People need to understand that vaccination helps us individually, but also helps to reduce transmission across households and communities. In particular, it may help ensure those who are more vulnerable due to suppressed immune systems, do not get exposed or sick.”

Novavax and Moderna are only available from the Community Vaccination Clinic at the Wonthaggi Town Hall on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm-5pm.

According to the Australian Department of Health, two large clinical trials showed that Novavax is effective in preventing COVID-19 in people aged 18 years and older.

People who had two doses of Novavax were approximately 90 per cent less likely to get symptomatic COVID-19 than people who did not get the vaccine. It was equally effective in people over the age of 65 years, as well as people with some stable pre-existing medical conditions.

Protection against COVID-19 starts from about two-three weeks after the first dose.

Novavax is not currently registered for use as a booster vaccine.

For more information about whether Novavax is suitable for you, please consult the immunisers at the town hall or your General Practitioner.

If you are 16 years or older, you can receive a booster if it has been three months or more since your second dose.

People aged 16 and over can have a booster dose of Pfizer. People aged 18 and over can have a booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna. Booster doses are not currently recommended for younger people.

BCH has an outreach vaccination clinic at Newhaven College on Saturday March 19, from 2-4pm at the school at 1770 Phillip Island Road, Phillip Island.

Vaccinations are also available from General Practitioners and select pharmacies.

Since May 2021, BCH immunisers have given nearly 45,000 COVID vaccinations.