A GP guide to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations
With multiple vaccines currently or imminently available, we look at their safety, efficacy and recommended use
Need to know:
- Despite the short time frame since the emergence of COVID-19, a number of safe and effective vaccines are now available.
- Available vaccines are highly effective at preventing symptomatic disease and very likely effective at reducing severe disease.
- Vaccine efficacy against asymptomatic disease appears to be lower, making the achievement of herd immunity challenging.
- Evolving viral adaptations pose additional challenges, with reduced vaccine efficacy against emerging variants of concern.
- Ongoing vaccine developments can be expected in order to meet and address these challenges.
It has been just over a year since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Australia on 25 January 2020.
Remarkably, in the 12 months that have followed, multiple safe and effective vaccines have been made available against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, with