Novavax has been given the nod by the medicines regulator to apply for provisional registration of its COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 12 and over.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said in a statement on Thursday it had granted a second provisional determination to Biocelect in relation to its COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid.
Currently, the protein-based vaccine is only approved for adults.
"The new provisional determination means that (Novavax) is now able to apply for provisional registration for the vaccine for use in adolescents and children as data becomes available," the authority said.
"(The company) has indicated that they intend to apply for provisional registration of the vaccine for use in individuals 12 years and older in April 2022 and anticipate that an application for use in children five to 11 years old will be submitted to the TGA later in the year."