Question Number: 186
PDR Number: SQ22-000189
Date Submitted: 24/02/2022
Department or Body: Department of Health
Mental health and suicide prevention remains one of the Australian Government’s highest priorities. Australians who have concerns about vaccines have access to a wide range of mental health support services available to them.
Since March 2020, the former government has made available more than $1.3 billion in funding to respond to the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a substantial investment in telehealth services. This includes additional funding for key services to boost capacity to meet increased demand through:
- providing extra funding to Primary Health Networks to boost existing mental health services, including for vulnerable groups such as older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- creating a dedicated Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service delivered by Beyond Blue
- boosting services such as Lifeline, Kids Helpline and other digital services to support specific groups
- doubling the Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions under the Better Access initiative for people with a mental health care plan from 10 to 20 sessions; and
- providing additional help and support to people of all ages living in NSW, Victoria and the ACT through Head to Heath Pop Up services.
The safety of the Australian population has always been of the highest priority. For this reason, decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccines have been guided by the expert medical advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
The former government was working closely with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the ATAGI and all state and territory health departments to ensure that monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine safety is of the highest possible standard in Australia.
The TGA formally assesses the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, including vaccines, prior to their approval for use in Australia. All vaccines must pass the TGA’s rigorous assessment and approval processes, after being tested in large clinical trials on thousands of people. Technical experts analyse the three phases of clinical trials test for safety at every phase, as well as how effective the vaccine is at protecting against infection and/or disease.
All COVID-19 vaccines used in the rollout have been granted provisional approval following a complete assessment of all this available data. No part of the process has been rushed and the TGA does not have an ‘Emergency Use Authorisation’ pathway for COVID-19 vaccines.
The TGA is open and transparent about safety information relating to COVID-19 vaccines, including any suspected side effects or potential safety issues. The TGA publishes a weekly safety report, including information about reported suspected side effects, as well as other safety alerts as required. More information can be found at: www.tga.gov.au using the search terms ‘COVID-19-vaccine safety monitoring and reporting’. Product information and consumer medicines information including ingredient listings for all provisionally approved vaccines can also be located on the TGA’s website.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is also conducting COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance through AusVaxSafety. Further information can be found at: ausvaxsafety.org.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccine-safety-surveillance.
The goal is to protect all people in Australia from the harm caused COVID-19 infection, through preventing serious illness and death, and where possible, disease transmission. The Pfizer (Comirnaty), AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) and Moderna (Spikevax) vaccines have all been proven through approval and safety monitoring processes to be very effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalisation and death.
