The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
Four main COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Australia – Comirnaty (Pfizer), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), and Nuvaxovid (Novavax). However, Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) is no longer available. Bivalent vaccines for both mRNA vaccines are also registered in Australia. These cover the Omicron BA.1 and BA.4-5 variants. All of these COVID-19 vaccines have met the TGA’s high standards for quality, safety and effectiveness.
The TGA closely monitors reports of suspected side effects (also known as adverse events) to the COVID-19 vaccines. This is the most intensive safety monitoring ever conducted of any vaccines in Australia.
We encourage people to report suspected side effects, even if there’s only a very small chance a vaccine was the cause. Learn more about causality and our COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring and reporting activities.
Update of publication status
In line with the official end of the COVID-19 emergency response, this will be the last regular publication of the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Report. Routine safety monitoring and surveillance of the COVID-19 vaccines will continue along with timely communication of any updated safety advice when needed.
Extensive information on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines and reported adverse events following vaccination remain available on our website (see Useful links below).
Summary
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is the most effective way to reduce deaths and severe illness from infection. The protective benefits of vaccination far outweigh the potential risks. Read the latest statement from medicine regulators around the world confirming the good safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Like all medicines, COVID-19 vaccines may cause some side effects. The most frequently reported include injection-site reactions (such as a sore arm) and more general symptoms, like headache, muscle pain, fever and chills. This reflects what was seen in the clinical trials.
- The most up-to-date recommendations for use of the COVID-19 vaccines - external site are available from the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
- Reporting rates of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are very stable. More detail on vaccine safety in children, adolescents and adults following vaccination is available in a previous vaccine safety report.
- Reporting rates of myocarditis and pericarditis (inflammation of the heart or membrane around the heart) following vaccination are very stable. We will continue to monitor and review these adverse effects and will communicate any updated safety advice if needed.
- Myocarditis is reported in around 1-2 in every 100,000 people who receive Comirnaty (Pfizer), around 2 in every 100,000 of those who receive Spikevax (Moderna) and around 4 in every 100,000 people who receive Nuvaxovid (Novavax). Detailed information about our analysis of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination with an mRNA vaccine or Nuvaxovid (Novavax) is available in a previous vaccine safety report.
- Similarly, our analyses of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) following the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine are available in a previous vaccine safety report. This vaccine is no longer available in Australia.