The small rate of myocarditis following administration of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is highest among adolescents, according to the TGA’s latest safety report.

Teenage boys appear to be at particular risk after the second dose although the absolute risk is low, the regulator says, a finding which has also been observed in the US, Israel and other countries.

More than a third of Australians aged 12-15 have already received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine since eligibility was expanded to this age group last month.

As of 26 September, the TGA had received 178 reports of suspected myocarditis and 672 of suspected pericarditis associated with Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine across all age groups — out of more than 15 million doses administered.