Here's a few reliable starting points for you - Australian Medical Association, Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges, Australian Academy of Science and the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy:
Academy statement on the pandemic, vaccines and misinformationJanuary 14, 2021
Academy President Professor John Shine
This week we’ve seen significant misunderstandings and differing views regarding the effectiveness of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. It is crucial that the distinction be made between a vaccine’s effectiveness at protecting from severe disease versus its effectiveness at stopping transmission.
Australia’s current vaccination strategy is aimed at reducing the severity of disease—put simply, to reduce the number of exposed individuals getting very sick or dying.
Australia has become a pandemic success story. The majority of individual Australians’ willingness to follow public health directions, and a laudable commitment from governments to listen to experts and allow science to guide policy, has been mostly responsible for this success.
Australians can be confident that vaccines approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration will be safe and effective at reducing the risk of developing severe COVID-19.
Australia is in a fortunate position as we are not facing the COVID-19 transmission rates currently experienced by the USA, the UK, European countries, and others worldwide. Our hospitals are not operating at capacity, and death and community transmission rates of COVID-19 are low.
Australia is not experiencing conditions that would require vaccination rollout via emergency use authorisation. As such, our nation will benefit from growing data on vaccine dose and effectiveness as they are implemented in countries with the greatest need.
Vaccinated individuals will be protected from the worst of COVID-19 but will not be protected from becoming infected. None of the vaccines that have been approved for use have demonstrated that they can stop transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)—conclusive data is not available yet.
Importantly, in preventing severe COVID-19 that requires hospitalisation, both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines are equally effective. Accordingly, the Academy supports the current Australian Government vaccination strategy, informed by the best available expertise and science.
Public confusion has arisen around the implications of 62% or 95% effectiveness of first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. These figures represent the AstraZeneca AZD1222 and Pfizer BioNTech BTB162b vaccines’ respective effectiveness rates at protecting an infected person from developing
mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.
Either vaccine is amply effective to prevent
severe disease—the outcome we all fear most and the primary goal of Australia’s vaccination strategy.
The approval and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines alone will not bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, public health measures such as practising good hygiene, high levels of testing, contact tracing and physical distancing must continue in 2021.
Australians should get vaccinated. Administering first-generation vaccines will be critical to reducing the number of people infected with COVID-19 who then progress to hospitalisation, intensive care or death. It will allow us to avoid a major wave of illness like that currently being experienced in the northern hemisphere.
Lifting public health measures will only be possible following further research, adequate worldwide vaccination and the control of spread at an international level. In this context, the Australian Government’s commitment to the World Health Organization, COVAX and supporting our Pacific and South-East Asian neighbours to obtain access to vaccines is highly commendable.
Australians are looking for trustworthy information and answers about COVID-19 and vaccination. With much misinformation in the public domain, we urge Australians to continue to consult reputable sources of evidence-based information such as Commonwealth and State Departments of Health, our Chief Medical Officers, the Australian Academy of Science, as well as our other Learned Academies such as the Australian Academy for Health and Medical Sciences.
In this context, Australians with questions about vaccines are encouraged to consult Academy resources, including our
COVID-19 Hub, and the
Science of Immunisation, which is currently being updated.
Australians can be reassured that the current Australian Government vaccination strategy is informed by experts and the best available science. Only science will solve this.
Professor John Shine AC PresAA FRS
President
Australian Academy of Science
https://www.science.org.au/news-and...tatement-pandemic-vaccines-and-misinformationJoint Statement - COVID vaccination only pathway to more normal life20 May 2021
Joint statement – AMA & Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges The AMA and members of the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (CPMC) have said getting the COVID vaccination is the only pathway back to a more normal life.
In a joint statement released today the peak medical bodies have said the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any risks and urged all Australians to get vaccinated when their turn comes.
The AMA and CPMC also reminded Australians the vaccination program had been extended to include all people aged 50 years and over. People in this age group are assessed as being at higher risk of severe COVID-19 and death.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said Australia had an “outstanding record on vaccination, with some of the highest rates of vaccine take-up in the world”, protecting the community from a wide range of serious illness. He said Australians could approach vaccination for COVID-19 with the “same confidence”.
“To date, there have been over 160 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 world-wide and a death toll exceeding 3.3 million people. It is not sustainable for Australia to rely on international border closures, restrictions, and potential lockdowns to protect the community from COVID-19.
“The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is being used in 139 countries and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in 90 countries. The evidence from the hundreds of millions of doses delivered in these countries is that both are protecting people from serious illness and hospitalisation and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Dr Khorshid said.
CPMC Chair Dr Kym Jenkins said while Australia had avoided much of the experience seen overseas, the country would be vulnerable to its re-emergence until the population was largely vaccinated.
“Vaccines, like other medicines, can have side effects and there have been a very small number of serious adverse events from COVID-19 vaccination that may understandably worry some people. However, the community can be reassured by knowing these are extremely rare, and that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have moved swiftly to address any safety concerns.
“Australia’s frontline doctors, who know the risks of COVID-19, have come forward in large numbers to receive either the Oxford-Astra Zeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines,” Dr Jenkins said.
There are range of reputable sources of information about COVID-19 vaccinations including the
Department of Health’s website. General practitioners are also experts in vaccinations and should be the first point of call for patients who want advice and help, when considering whether a COVID-19 vaccination is right for them.
https://www.ama.com.au/media/joint-statement-covid-vaccination-only-pathway-more-normal-lifeAllergy, Immunodeficiency, Autoimmunity and COVID-19 Vaccination Position Statement20 September 2021: This statement has been developed by ASCIA, the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand as a guide for COVID-19 vaccination in people with allergy, immunodeficiency and autoimmune conditions, and is updated when new information is available.
ASCIA HP Position Statement COVID-19 Vaccination 2021-09-20121.33 KBIntroductionVaccination is an important method to reduce the risk of developing infectious diseases, including COVID-19, caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Immunisation occurs after the vaccine stimulates the immune system to induce antibodies (immunoglobulins) and cellular immunity to protect from severe COVID-19 disease, and possibly reduce the risk of transmission of infection in the community.
Public health measures and restrictions that have been implemented by the Australian and New Zealand governments since March 2020 have reduced the spread of COVID-19 in our countries. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major cause of illness and deaths worldwide, and outbreaks continue to occur.
This means that vaccination programs are required throughout the world, including Australia and New Zealand.
COVID-19 vaccines available in Australia and New ZealandThe COVID-19 vaccines listed below are not live-attenuated vaccines and are safe for people with immune system disorders, including allergy, immunodeficiency and autoimmune conditions:
- Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine – available in Australia and New Zealand for adults and children 12 years and over.
- Moderna Spikevax mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine – available in Australia for adults and children 12 years and over.
- AstraZeneca/Oxford Vaxzevria viral vector COVID-19 vaccine – available in Australia for adults 18 years and over.
In Australia the vaccines listed above have all been provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is part of the Australian Government Department of Health.
www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccinesIn New Zealand the Pfizer/BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine has been provisionally approved by Medsafe.
www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccinesOther brands of COVID-19 vaccines have also been provisionally approved by the TGA and Medsafe, and these may become available in future.
Provisional approval for use of mRNA vaccines in the 12-15 years age group has been made following careful evaluation of the available data supporting safety and efficacy.
Allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines Allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines are rare. However, if there is a high risk of an allergic reaction to one of the vaccines, it may be possible to have another vaccine which does not contain the ingredient, subject to availability and medical advice.
With new vaccines it is critical to evaluate the safety after the vaccine has been licensed. Post-licensure information on the safety of mRNA vaccines have demonstrated higher rates of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) than expected. However, rates are extremely low.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), also known as macrogol, is an ingredient in mRNA vaccines:
- Different forms of PEG are found in tablets, laxatives, hand sanitiser gels, injectable corticosteroids, medications, cosmetics, bathroom products and colonoscopy preparation products.
- PEG can cause contact dermatitis in some people.
- PEG is recognised as a rare hidden allergen that can trigger anaphylaxis to multiple classes of drugs.
It is uncertain whether PEG or another ingredient may trigger COVID-19 vaccine anaphylaxis.
Polysorbate 80 is chemically related to PEG and is an ingredient in the
AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Widespread use of COVID-19 vaccines suggests that severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are very rare.
https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/ascia-hp-position-statement-covid-19-vaccination
