Australia announced opening its border for international travelers from December 1, 2021. Australian Prime minister announced this Australian border reopening for international students, skilled workers, humanitarian, working visa holders, backpackers as well as provisional family visa holders. But there are some conditions that need to meet before boarding for Australia. You need to be fully vaccinated which means you need to have completed a course of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognized vaccine.
This is good news, Australia is opening its borders after almost two years of closure. However, the happiness is limited to your vaccine certificates. In this article, we are going to explain what are those vaccines recognized by TGA. It’s crucial to know which COVID-19 vaccines are accepted by the Australian Government, along with the entry requirements in Australia.
The Australian medical regulator has formally recognized more vaccines used abroad but not here, preparing the country for international visitors shortly.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recommended that only the vaccines approved in Australia and Covishield from India and Sinovac from China be used for travel and other restricted purposes.
Two more have been added to its list – Covaxin, made in India, and Sinopharm, made in China.
Read Also: Australia opens border for international students and visa holders
In this category, travelers aged 12 and older who have had Covaxin vaccination are recognized, and those aged 18 to 60 have had BBIBP-CorV vaccination.
Covaxin has been recognized. Moreover, Coronavac (made by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (made by AstraZeneca, India) have previously been indicated as fully vaccines, hence new entry requirements for citizens of countries in the Australian region in which these vaccines are widely used.
This decision will ease international students’ return to Australia after receiving vaccines that differ from those commonly administered in that country.
International students and skilled and unskilled workers will be affected by this and students returning to Australia.
COVID-19 vaccine approved and recognized
In Australia, the COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) following a rigorous assessment and approval process. The process included assessing vaccine safety, quality, and efficacy. Australia’s TGA has also recognized vaccines for travel purposes.
COVID-19 vaccinations currently approved or recognized by TGA include:
- Comirnaty (Pfizer)
- Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
- Covishield (AstraZeneca)
- Spikevax (Moderna)
- Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
- Coronavac (Sinovac)
- BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years old)
- Covaxin (Bharat Biotech)
The TGA is reviewing future COVID-19 vaccines to decide whether inbound travellers can use them in Australia.
Read More: List of Recognised Vaccines by TGA
A vaccination certificate at the Australian border
The Australian Government will no longer require an exemption for fully vaccinated individuals to travel overseas beginning 1 November 2021.
Use your COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC) at the Australian border if you were vaccinated in Australia.
Foreign vaccination certificates can be used when travelling to Australia if you were vaccinated overseas but have not yet obtained an ICVC.
If your medical condition does not allow you to be vaccinated, you can still travel abroad without an exemption if your medical documentation can prove it. However, depending on the state or territory where you arrive in Australia, you may have to go through quarantine.
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Vaccinated fully: what does that mean?
The vaccines you receive must be approved or recognized by the TGA.
As a fully vaccinated Australian, you must have had either the following vaccinations:
- At least two total doses separated by at least 14 days
Comirnaty (Pfizer)
Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
Covishield (AstraZeneca)
Spikevax (Moderna)
Coronavac (Sinovac)
BBIBP-CorV(Sinopharm) (for 18-60 years old)
Covaxin (Bharat Biotech) or
- one dose of Janssen-Cilag (Johnson & Johnson)
The final dose of a course of immunizations must have been administered at least seven days before consideration as fully vaccinated. When combined amounts are approved or recognized by the TGA, they count towards being fully vaccinated.
Australia does not consider you to be ‘fully vaccinated’ if you have not been immunized with the above doses or schedule. It includes instances where your country’s vaccination schedule or vaccine eligibility differ.
All vaccines must be approved or recognized by the TGA for all doses to count towards being fully vaccinated.
Vaccination exemptions based on medical conditions
You will be treated like a vaccinated person for travel purposes if you cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.
The COVID-19 vaccine is only available to those with documented medical conditions.
- It is essential to update the Australian Immunization Register (AIR) to include your exemption if you live in Australia. If you do, you can generate an ICVC proving your exemption.
- If you are overseas, you will need to present a medical exemption certificate. These documents should meet specific criteria.
You would not be considered vaccinated when travelling if an unapproved vaccine or one not recognized by the TGA.
Travel vaccinations for children in Australia
Departing Australia
Australia does not require an exemption for children under the age of 12.
The Department of Home Affairs will require an exemption from children 12 and older who haven’t received complete vaccinations.
Returning to Australia
Depending on the state of arrival, it is possible to modify quarantine and testing requirements for children under 18 who do not qualify as fully vaccinated. Find out what is required in your state before arriving.
How to register a vaccination received abroad
The Australian Immunization Register (AIR) allows you to register your vaccinations when you return to Australia to receive an approved COVID-19 vaccination while overseas. The AIR will only accept vaccines that the TGA has approved.
You can register your vaccination in the AIR by following these steps:
- Provide your provider with proof that you have been vaccinated
- . The proof of vaccination should be brought into Australia when you return. Unless it is in English, the evidence gets translated.
- Your Medicare online account needs to be updated (if applicable).
- A vaccination provider in Australia must receive proof of vaccination. Your vaccination status gets verified, and the vaccination records are added to your AIR.
Upon registering your vaccination on the AIR, you can apply for a COVID-19 International Vaccination Certificate to take with you when you travel overseas.
Getting vaccinated overseas
The safety, quality, and efficacy of a vaccine approved outside of Australia’s regulatory process cannot be evaluated by the Australian Government’s Australian Government. Additional assistance should be discussed with your local health professional.
The Australian Government coordinates its global vaccination program with foreign governments to provide vaccines to Australians in foreign countries. Australia follows a similar policy in that vaccines are available to all residents there.
An information link is provided in our travel advice to your location’s vaccination program. Please refer to the ‘Health Risks’ heading in the ‘Health’ section.
Make sure you only opt for official vaccination programs when you decide to get vaccinated locally. Avoid vaccines that come from unreliable sources. The scammers are marketing COVID-19 prevention and treatment products without providing proof of what contains them or whether they work.
Pre-departure testing when leaving Australia
People leaving Australia do not need to undergo pre-departure testing.
You may need to take tests in the country you are visiting.
Before traveling to a foreign country, make sure you check with your nearest embassy or consulate for the latest entry requirements.
More queries on your received vaccines of COVID-19, along with the state consents given for the taken vaccine write down on the comment section below.
