Ray Marchiori, acting director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, testifies before the Legislative Audit Commission on Nov. 7, 2023, about the agencys handling of unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)
SPRINGFIELD Illinois received another credit upgrade Tuesday, the same day a legislative committee once again scrutinized Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration for its handling of unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The upgrade came from Fitch Ratings, the last remaining holdout of the nations three major credit reporting agencies to advance the states status to A grade. Collectively, Fitch, S&P Global Ratings and Moodys Investors Service have given the state nine credit upgrades since 2021.
Credit upgrades generally make it cheaper for the state to borrow money, playing a major role in investors assessment of risk in buying state bonds. Fitch moved Illinois to an A-, up from the BBB+ rating it had given the state last year. Illinois ratings had been on a general downward trajectory across administrations of both parties since the mild recession two decades ago.
Fitchs review of state finances drew similar conclusions to those that came before it: reserves are growing while long-term liabilities, including pension debt, remain an elevated but still moderate burden.
Reserves have improved to historically high levels for the state and provide an important fiscal cushion, but levels remain relatively modest versus other states, Fitch said in its analysis. Management has eliminated many outstanding budgetary liabilities and established a sustainable pattern of smoother fiscal decision-making.
The states rainy day fund officially referred to as the Budget Stabilization Fund had a balance of nearly $2 billion as of Tuesday.
Still, the states unfunded pension liabilities sit at roughly $140 billion a number representing what the state would owe if every pensioner sought to collect benefits at once. While an indicator of the pension funds financial health, it does not reflect their current ability to pay out benefits that are owed.
In recent years, lawmakers have allocated hundreds of millions of dollars beyond statutory requirements to Illinois pension funds, lessening future liabilities. Fitch called those payments helpful, but insufficient to address this structural budget gap.
It also warned the rating could once again be lowered if Illinois returns to a point of irresolute and contentious fiscal decision-making which had become commonplace over several recent administrations, especially during the two years the state went without a budget between 2015 and 2017.
We are continuing to right the past fiscal wrongs in our state with disciplined fiscal leadership, and credit rating agencies and businesses alike are taking notice of Illinois remarkable progress, Pritzker said in a statement.
The upgrade was issued, Fitch noted, because Illinois is planning on issuing bonds next week to continue financing a pension buyout program thats anticipated to shave $1.4 billion off the states pension liability over its lifetime.
Also in recent years, Illinois has reduced its backlog of unpaid bills to within a 30-day accounts payable cycle. That effort was boosted by an $898 million allocation to pay off old group health insurance bills last year, which passed as part of a broader plan to pay down debt accrued by the unemployment insurance trust fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The unemployment fund was about $4.5 billion in the red at its lowest point, but lawmakers approved multiple cash infusions to pay off the debt to avoid further massive tax hikes on employers.
IDES Scrutinized
The nature of that unemployment trust fund debt was the subject of scrutiny at an unrelated committee hearing Tuesday.
The Legislative Audit Commission, a bipartisan bicameral group that reviews state audits, questioned Ray Marchiori, the acting director of the Department of Employment Security who previously served as the agencys chief of staff before Pritzker appointed him director in January.
The committee was discussing a state auditor general report from July which showed Illinois overpaid unemployment benefits to the tune of $5.2 billion during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of it went to fraudulent claimants, including hundreds of dead or incarcerated individuals.
During the pandemic, IDES phone lines and website couldnt handle the sudden spike of individuals trying to file for benefits. State officials scrambled to contract with outside entities to both increase staff and stand up a new federally funded program for people traditionally ineligible for unemployment insurance. That program, called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, was designed to give benefits to people such as gig workers and freelancers, and was the subject of about $3.2 billion of the overpayments.
The audit found the rush created weaknesses that fraudsters would go on to exploit when the state temporarily halted its process of crossmatching claims against five other databases to verify eligibility.
The audit noted that Illinois failed to follow federal recommendations in May 2020 to prevent some of the fraud. It wasnt until September 2021 that IDES implemented the use of a multi-state crossmatching tool called the Integrity Data Hub, according to the audit.
At many points, the commission hearing served as a venue for lawmakers to air long-stated grievances.
Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, criticized what he viewed as the agencys total disregard for the General Assembly during the pandemic, citing IDES unwillingness to share call center data.
But much of the questioning for IDES on Tuesday centered on whether it was ready to respond to future crisis events, potentially driven by global political strife.
Are you prepared right now for the world to go to hell again, or will you be prepared in a couple more months? Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry, asked the department. What is your when are you ready to say you can handle the next relatively foreseen crisis in the state?
Marchiori responded that IDES scaled up its server capacity and other information technology capabilities to handle pandemic high-water marks of claims. He said IDES is averaging 1,800-2,000 claims per day in normal times, but the systems can handle at least 48,000 per day.
IDES has also created an internal fraud task force and is working on other controls, he said, which will be helped by $30 million in federal grants.
Good Financial News
While Wilcox quizzed IDES on its readiness for another economic downturn, a recent report from the legislatures Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability painted a positive picture for state finances one-third of the way through the current fiscal year.
Thus far in fiscal year 2024, which began in July, state base revenues are $742 million ahead of the same period last year, which ended in the state netting $50.7 billion in revenue. While it marked good financial news, COGFA has frequently noted that the latter months of the fiscal year especially April when tax returns come in can often make or break state finances. Read more: State ends fiscal year with record $50.7 billion in base revenue, sparking small surplus
The economy, meanwhile, appears to be humming along, according to COGFAs Chief Economist Benjamin Varner, especially in areas such as consumer spending.
While Varner noted some economic forecasters are expecting a slowing of the economy potentially related to high interest rates, the threat of a government shut-down, the resumption of the repayment of student loans, and global political strife such predictions are not new in recent years.
However, economic slowdowns have been forecasted consistently over the past two years because of similar impediments, yet the economy continues to expand, he wrote. The question continues to be how long can these potential economic hurdles be avoided before a major slowdown occurs.
Capitol News Illinois Hannah Meisel contributed.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
A mathematical modeling study today from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) suggests that the risk of hospital death from respiratory illness is higher in warmer, summer months, which may have implications for how hospitals will need to adjust to climate change.
The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe and is based on data on ambient temperature and in-hospital mortality from respiratory diseases in Madrid and Barcelona from 2006 through 2019.
In Spain, respiratory illness has a winter peak and a summer low. But, the authors wrote, there is little known about seasonal variation in inpatient mortality, a surrogate for hospital performance in relation to severe respiratory events. The study used data on daily hospital admissions, weather, and common air pollutants to compare ambient temperature associations and in-patient mortality.
The investigators found that summer temperatures accounted for 16.2% and 22.3% of overall fatal hospitalizations from respiratory diseases in Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. Though hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses were highest in cold weather months, case-fatality rates (CFR) peaked in August.
"We saw that the higher CFR in the warm season was mainly driven by pneumonia, acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, COPD, and, especially, respiratory failure," the authors wrote.
The authors said this finding could be consequential in the face of warming daily temperatures.
The increase in acute respiratory outcomes during heat is more related to the aggravation of chronic and infectious respiratory diseases than to the spread of new respiratory infection.
"This suggests that the increase in acute respiratory outcomes during heat is more related to the aggravation of chronic and infectious respiratory diseases than to the spread of new respiratory infections, which usually take several days to cause symptoms," said Hicham Achebak, PhD, first author of the study in an ISGLOBAL press release. "Unless effective adaptation measures are taken in hospital facilities, climate warming could exacerbate the burden of inpatient mortality from respiratory diseases during the warm season."
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Two Idaho residents diagnosed with monkey pox virus after out-of-state travel
by CBS2 News Staff
NHS England High consequence infectious diseases - example of mpox rash
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2)
Idaho Public Health and Central District Health report that two people in Idaho have been diagnosed with mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Both individuals traveled outside of the state, and it is believed that is where they may have been exposed.
Mpox is a virus that can spread through prolonged direct contact with someone who has mpox, or in rare cases, spread by touching things contaminated with the virus, like bedding or towels, according to CDH.
The infection causes a rash that first appears to be pimples, then blisters. The rash may appear all over the body or just in certain places like the hands, face, feet, inside the mouth, genitals, or anus.
Some people develop flu-like symptoms such as sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, aches, and fatigue. The infection can cause all or only a few symptoms. Someone who has mpox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed.
People exposed to someone with mpox should watch for symptoms for 21 days. Afterward, get vaccinated as soon as possible, ideally within four days but up to 14, says Central District Health.
If you believe you have been exposed, talk to your healthcare provider. If you want more information about mpox or the vaccine and treatments, click HERE.
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Bali Airport has announced that it will be increasing screening measures for all tourists arriving on the island following an outbreak of Monkey Pox in the country.
The capital city of Jakarta in Java is currently experiencing a rise in cases, and Bali is being proactive in its mitigation efforts.
The General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Handy Heyudhitiawan, has told reporters that Ngurah Rai Airport Management is tightening supervision of both aircraft crew and passengers to prevent the spread of monkeypox in Bali.
Heyudhitiawan told reporters, The I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport Community is increasing awareness of monkeypox by continuing to coordinate with the Port Health Office (KKP) regarding anticipating a monkeypox outbreak.
He added, We are coordinating with the KKP in arranging the necessary procedures and monitoring methods. All passengers arriving in Bali, whether at the domestic or international terminals, will have to pass by thermal imaging cameras on arrival, which will detect raised temperatures.
A fever, or rising body temperature, is one of the earliest symptoms of monkeypox, as well as the Nipah virus, which airport officials are also on high alert for. The telltale symptom of monkeypox is the development of a blistering rash and swollen lymph nodes.
Heyudhitiawan explained there is 24-hour surveillance in place at Bali Airport from both a security and bio-security perspective.
He explained, We ensure that this preventive measure aims to maintain the safety and comfort of service users at the airport, as well as preventing the spread of monkeypox to the Bali region.
Predictions from the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control of the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, suggest that over 3,000 people in Indonesia could be affected by this outbreak of monkeypox.
Speaking from Jakarta last week, Rondonuwu said, Our prediction with epidemiologist experts compared the rate that occurred in England. We estimate that the key population could be up to 3,600 people. He confirmed that contact tracing efforts are underway in Jakarta to help ensure public safety during the outbreak.
He continued, We have tried to sort the timeline of who was the first (infected). We have seen one probable case since August who has had symptoms, but he did not take a sample and it is difficult to find this person, and he often goes back and forth abroad.
Rondonuwu assured the public that although monkeypox is a serious virus, that the risk of serious complications or fatality is low. This variant is not too serious, the death rate is also low.
Monkeypox can be transmitted through physical contact with the infected bodily fluids, scabs, or blisters. Extended close contact can result in transmission through infected droplets from coughs and sneezes.
The incubation period for the disease is 1-2 weeks typically, though records show a full range of incubation periods from 5-21 days.
Anyone showing symptoms of monkeypox should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The thermal imaging process is not set to add any additional time to the arrivals process at Bali Airport.
In fact, arrival times are set to speed up in the coming weeks. It has been confirmed that Bali Airport will be installing 90 new auto-gates to help speed up the immigration process.
The first set of gates are being installed now, with the project due to be completed in early 2024. There will be 60 auto gates installed in the arrivals hall and 30 in the departures area.
Airport officials have said that the installation process will not impact queue times at immigration as all staffed counters will remain open and operational.
At an anti-vaccine conference in Georgia on Friday, presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed his commitment to the cause and spoke to his base about how he, as president, would serve the movement he built.
I feel like Ive come home today, he said to a standing ovation, crediting the assembled audience with his candidacy.
He then laid out his vision for a Kennedy presidency, which would include telling the National Institutes of Health to take a break from studying infectious diseases, like Covid-19 and measles, and pivoting the agency to the study of chronic diseases, like diabetes and obesity. Kennedy has suggested without evidence that researchers and pharmaceutical companies are driven by profit to neglect such chronic conditions and invest in ineffective and even harmful treatments; he includes vaccines among them.
Im gonna say to NIH scientists, God bless you all, Kennedy said. Thank you for public service. Were going to give infectious disease a break for about eight years.
Kennedys remarks came at the end of the first day of a conference for the countrys largest anti-vaccine organization, Childrens Health Defense. Kennedy signed on with Childrens Health Defense in 2015 and served as its chairman and chief litigation counsel until April, when he announced he would go on leave to run for president.
Currently running as an independent candidate, Kennedy is polling favorably among voters across the political spectrum. In a hypothetical 2024 general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University poll this week, Kennedy received 22% support against Biden (39%) and Trump (36%).
Kennedy has mostly shied away from anti-vaccine advocacy on the campaign trail and has said, despite years of public statements to the contrary, that he is not opposed to vaccines. This spring, he told NBC News vaccines were not an issue that Im leading with.
A representative for Childrens Health Defense declined my request to attend the conference in person, citing my record of reporting on CHDs themes and activities. NBC News paid $275 for a virtual ticket and watched the conference via a livestream provided to remote attendees.
In the hourlong speech, Kennedy covered well-worn subjects, railing against the evils of pharmaceutical companies, warning against researchers who he said improperly frame scientific findings for profit, and expounding on conspiracy theories around Covid measures, including what he called the totalitarian regime that controls public health and censorship of dissenting voices. Referring to vaccines, he said to the mothers in the audience: You have a duty to do research when youre giving your child a medical intervention.
In addition to his proposed moves at NIH, Kennedy said that as president, hed appoint a like-minded attorney general, maybe Aaron Siri, he said. Siri is a lawyer who has done millions of dollars of work for leading anti-vaccination groups, including a recent case that opened up religious exemptions for childhood vaccines in Mississippi. The crowd erupted in applause.
He said he would use the power of that attorney general to threaten editors of medical journals and force them to publish studies that had been retracted (he often cites the retracted studies saying ivermectin, a parasite drug, is an effective treatment for Covid). Were gonna say were fixing to file some racketeering lawsuits if you dont start telling the truth in your journals.
Before Kennedys speech, an announcer told the crowd that as a nonprofit, Childrens Health Defense does not endorse political candidates. But evidence of Kennedys anti-vaccine support is abundant. Childrens Health Defenses employees have been selling merchandise at Kennedy campaign events, and its current president served as a strategist, fundraiser and organizer for Kennedys campaign. The super PAC supporting Kennedys candidacy is run by a former president of Childrens Health Defenses New York chapter.
Most Americans, particularly Democrats, do not share Kennedys skeptical views on vaccines, but confidence in vaccines has fallen post-Covid. A small but growing number of Americans believe that vaccines are unsafe and can cause autism, which is false, according to a new survey from the University of Pennsylvanias Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Childrens Health Defense cheered the increasing distrust of vaccines during the pandemic, calling drops in childhood vaccination rates Covids silver lining. The swell in attention on vaccines and Kennedys enthusiastic activism against them served Childrens Health Defense well. In 2021, the group raised nearly $16 million, more than 4 times its revenue in 2019. Kennedys salary grew to more than $500,000.
Kennedys remarks closed out the first day of the conference. Earlier speakers included other heroes of the anti-vaccine movement: Paul Thomas, an Oregon pediatrician whose medical license was suspended and ultimately surrendered after he failed to adequately vaccinate his patients; James Lyons-Weiler, an activist who incorrectly claims a gene sequence in Covid proves the laboratory-origin hypothesis; and Andrew Wakefield, the physician stripped of his license over a retracted study that popularized the false belief that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines cause autism.
I want to thank all of you for being on the front line in this battle, Kennedy said as he concluded, before pausing. I dont think I can say anything thats campaign-related, but anyway you know what to do.
After his remarks, attendees were invited to a cocktail reception and dinner with Childrens Health Defense leaders, conference speakers and medical freedom fighters. The event is to include a silent auction and a ceremony for the groups new Defender Award. The awards inaugural recipient, recognized for his courage and steadfast commitment to truth and liberty, is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Brandy Zadrozny is a senior reporter for NBC News. She covers misinformation, extremism and the internet.
Dont blame the experts
Insults based on science miss the mark | Perspective, Oct. 29
The column by F.D. Flam about the book The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science A Scientists Warning by Peter Hotez was interesting. The critics who say that public health professionals were not communicating well and that they need to educate people and let them make decisions regarding their health care are misguided. The U.S. required vaccines for children in order to attend public school. This, until recently, had been a decision not left to parents. Since this country has allowed parents to opt out of vaccines, we have seen increases in diseases that were unheard of years ago.
The reason so many people refused the COVID vaccine (and other vaccines) along with other measures to keep themselves safe had to do with where they got information about COVID, not the messages coming from public health officials. Some TV networks were reporting untruths. Also, there were recommendations made at the beginning of the pandemic that proved to be wrong. Scientists were confronted with something they had not seen before. This is how science works. Some things are found not to work and some are found to be helpful. Normally scientists do experiments to determine these recommendations. During COVID, they were trying every possible method of stopping communicable disease.
Ann Jamieson, St. Petersburg
Teens are on their screens 8 hours a day for fun & games | Column, Oct. 29
Where is the outrage? Social media, games, YouTube, X (Twitter), TikTok and its ilk are just like an addictive drug, a drug that is dismantling, depressing and destroying our youth. Moderation and balance are promoted, yet the crisis is an epidemic. A complete overhaul is needed of the cultural acceptance of our kids spending 8 hours a day, on average no less, on social media.
Given there are 24 hours in a day, assuming we allot eight hours for sleep (nope, kids arent getting that but they should), six hours for being in school, and then the eight hours for online social media, a meager two hours are left in the day for life. What is the end game of this? Where is this leading for our kids, for us?
The crisis is here. The adults in the room thats us need to fix this. Otherwise, the futures not bright for our kids and our way of life. Please make this, and efforts to combat it, front-page headline news, not something buried on page 66 of the news.
Steve Cassidy, St. Petersburg
16 Montana teens lesson for Floridians on constitutional right to clean water | Column, June 2
Most people associate Florida with clear ocean waters, white sand or the manatee. Each year, millions of people travel to the Sunshine State to enjoy its beautiful beaches, contributing significantly to the Florida economy. However, the quality of Florida beaches has significantly declined due to water pollution, harmful algal blooms and the unpleasant sight and smell of marine life carcasses strewn along the shoreline. We must take action to both protect and preserve Floridas natural beauty and also to keep the economy strong.
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Agricultural and fertilizer runoff and industrial discharge are both significant contributors to the declining water quality. They add excessive nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which make algal blooms (like red tide) become more frequent. These blooms have detrimental effects not only on the water and aquatic animals but also on humans. Harmful algal blooms can produce toxins that may cause breathing difficulties if inhaled, and they can pose health concerns for those who consume seafood contaminated by the toxins.
This must end. Join me and the Florida Right To Clean Water, a citizens initiative to amend the Florida Constitution with the right to clean water. Its up to we the people to create hope and change. We need 900,000 physically signed petitions by Nov. 30 to get on the 2024 ballot. Help us protect Florida waters before its too late.
Kaleigh Thadhani, Tampa
Biden meets with speaker over Israel, Ukraine aid | Oct. 27
We cant fund every war on the globe. So now we are also supporting a war in Israel. Its time to hand off the ball to Europe to handle Ukraine war. Its on their doorstep. Let them go broke supporting that war. While were going broke fighting all the other wars around the globe, I think our wallets have had enough.
Bob Green, Largo
Big premiums, big profits | Nov. 1
In December, under Gov. Ron DeSantis direction, the Florida Legislature passed laws gifting the insurance companies with new protections based on unproven claims about why homeowners insurance premiums are so high, and some lawmakers started to figure out ways to profit off those same in my view ill-conceived laws. We middle-class Floridians cant afford much more profitable mismanagement from our elected officials. I think its time to dump the whole Republican Party in Florida and see if the Democrats can competently run the state. Based on the past 20 years of Republican ineptitude the Democrats could hardly do worse.
Brian Valsavage, St. Petersburg
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The most frequently reported side effects suspected to be associated with the vaccines include headache, muscle pain, fever, fatigue and nausea. Skin reactions at the site of the injection are also common and can include pain, swelling, redness and an itchy rash. These are recognised side effects of vaccination and are usually transient and mild.
The most up-to-date vaccine recommendations for children are available from ATAGI.
The TGA is closely monitoring adverse event reports in people aged under 18 years. Reporting rates of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination, including those for children and adolescents, are very stable. More detail on vaccine safety in children and adolescents following vaccination is available in the safety report published on 15 December 2022.
The most up-to-date vaccine recommendations for booster doses are available from ATAGI.
The TGA continues to monitor the safety of booster vaccine doses in adults. A booster dose is an additional vaccine dose given after the primary vaccine course. In people who have recently had COVID-19, a 6-month interval is recommended before having their next scheduled dose.
Reporting rates of adverse events following booster doses are very stable. A small number of myocarditis and pericarditis cases have been reported for booster doses. We are closely monitoring these events. So far, reports of myocarditis after a booster dose are very rare, occurring in less than 1 in every 100,000 doses administered.
Information on vaccine safety following booster doses is available in the safety report published on 15 December 2022.
Vaccines can lead to death in extremely rare instances. However, most deaths that occur after vaccination are not caused by the vaccine. In large populations in which a new vaccine is given, there are people with underlying diseases who may die from these diseases. When a vaccine is given in that same population, the link between the vaccine and death is usually coincidental not caused by the vaccine. These deaths are carefully reviewed to assess whether vaccines could be the cause and for the vast majority that is not the case.
The TGA closely reviews all deaths reported in the days and weeks after COVID-19 vaccination. Read more about this process in a previous report. Since the beginning of the vaccine rollout to 29 October 2023, almost 69 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given in Australia. The TGA has identified 14 reports where the cause of death was linked to vaccination from 1,004 reports received and reviewed.There have been no new vaccine-related deaths identified since 2022.
The 14 deaths likely to be related to vaccination occurred in people aged 21-81 years old. There have been no deaths in children or adolescents determined to be linked to COVID-19 vaccination. More detail on these deaths is available in the safety report published on 15December 2022.
If we identify a new death likely to be related to vaccination, we will publish this information promptly, as we have for all other cases since the start of the vaccine roll-out.
It is important when looking for information about COVID-19 vaccines to consider whether the source of the information is credible and trustworthy. Websites such as COVID vaccines is it true? and COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions help to debunk false claims and misleading rumours.
The original Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is provisionally approved for adults and children aged 5 years and over. Two bivalent vaccines are available from Pfizer for use as booster doses Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.1 and Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5.
To 29 October 2023, more than 44 million doses have been administered in Australia, as well as almost 2.9 million doses of the bivalent booster vaccines.
The TGA continues to monitor reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and/or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) associated with mRNA vaccines.
Rates of these side effects are very stable. Myocarditis is reported in around 1-2 in every 100,000 people who receive Comirnaty (Pfizer). More detail on our analysis of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is available in a previous vaccine safety report.
Go to the Comirnaty (Pfizer) information page to find out more about these vaccines.
Up-to-date information for Comirnaty (Pfizer), including details of potential side effects, can be found in the Consumer Medicine Information (for consumers) and Product Information (for health professionals).
The Spikevax vaccine is fully approved for adults and children aged 6 years and over. Two bivalent vaccines are available from Moderna for use as booster doses Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.1 and Spikevax Original/Omicron BA.4-5 vaccine.
To 29 October 2023, more than 5million doses have been administered in Australia, as well as almost 1.4 million doses of the bivalent booster vaccines.
The TGA continues to monitor reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and/or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) associated with mRNA vaccines.
Rates of these side effects are very stable. Myocarditis is reported in around 2 in every 100,000 of those who receive Spikevax (Moderna). More detail on our analysis of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is available in a previous vaccine safety report.
Go to the Spikevax (Moderna) information page to find out more about these vaccines.
Up-to-date information for Spikevax (Moderna), including details of potential side effects, can be found in the Consumer Medicine Information (for consumers) and Product Information (for health professionals).
TheNuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine is provisionally approved for adults. To 29 October 2023, almost 268,000 doses of Nuvaxovid (Novavax) have been administered in Australia.
The TGA continues to monitor reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) following vaccination.
Rates of these side effects are very stable. Myocarditis is reported in around 4 in every 100,000 people who receive the Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine. More detail on our analysis of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination with Nuvaxovid (Novavax) is available in a previous vaccine safety report.
Go to the Nuvaxovid (Novavax) information page to find out more about this vaccine.
More information for Nuvaxovid (Novavax), including details about its ingredients and potential side effects, can be found in the Consumer Medicine Information (for consumers) and Product Information (for health professionals).
The Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine is no longer available for use in Australia. Almost 14million doses of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) were administered when it was in use.
Go to the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) information page to find out more about this vaccine.
More general information for Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), including details of potential side effects can be found in the Consumer Medicine Information (for consumers) and Product Information (for health professionals).
Watch this video to find out how the TGA monitors and reports the safety of COVID-19 vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions 26 July 2023
COVID vaccines is it true? 8 May 2023
Latest clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in Australia 5 October 2023
Latest advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding women
TGA COVID-19 vaccines hub
Australian Government Department of Health COVID-19 vaccines hub
COVID vaccine information in your language
Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN)
AusVaxSafety a national survey on COVID-19 vaccine safety
