Last month Novavax’s chief commercial officer was also hopeful the preference for the brand among some vaccine hesitant groups could help raise rates.
More than 280,000 people aged 16 and over in NSW are yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 – less than five per cent of the population but a sizeable group who, without an exemption, remain barred from certain activities including air travel.
At First Light Healthcare in Ballina and Byron Bay, practice manager Stephanie Currie said there had been a handful of calls a day about Novavax.
“There’s been interest, but some want it as their booster, and we are having to explain that’s not allowed,” she said.
From this week, NSW Health will offer Novavax at its Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney Olympic Park clinics. A pop-up clinic at Byron Bay Services Club will also be in operation, with walk-ins expected to drive uptake.
“There are certainly some people who just found it easier to say they were ‘waiting for Novavax’ than have extended conversations with people who were trying to change their mind,” said Jessica Kaufman, a vaccine uptake researcher at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
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“But I don’t want to be too pessimistic about how many people fall into that category because I think there are also people who had very deep-seated concerns about the ‘newness’ of the other vaccines.”
Dr Kaufman said it was important for the vaccine hesitant to be treated as individuals.
“[They] have already been pushed into a corner, called ‘anti-vaxxers’ and all the rest of it – the public health messaging with Novavax needs to provide them with information and approach them with an open mind.”
Sydney GPs and pharmacies offering Novavax contacted by the Herald reported receiving some inquiries about the brand. None were concerned about supply, with most inviting walk-ins.
There were 1288 COVID-19 cases in hospital on Monday, including 74 in intensive care.
The state reported seven new virus deaths: men aged in their 60s through to their 90s, five of whom had received two vaccine doses and two who were not vaccinated.
NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty asked people eligible for a booster dose to attend a clinic, noting many 16 and 17-year-olds would now be due.
with Rachel Clun
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The Novavax vaccine is here. So who was waiting for it?
Source: Philippines Alive
