A select group of GP respiratory clinics has started taking deliveries of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the latest push to expand access to the under-50s.

It follows the TGA’s decision last night to allow storage of the mRNA vaccine in a regular refrigerator at temperatures of 2-8°C for up to 31 days before administration.

The vaccine’s cold chain has been a logistical challenge, with the medicines watchdog previously insisting unopened vials could only be refrigerated for a maximum of five days after they were thawed from -70°C.

For the time-being access to the vaccine in general practice is limited to the GP respiratory clinics, officially known as Commonwealth vaccination clinics following a rebrand last month.