The Australian Government’s recent decision to amend Australia’s vaccine program was based on the recommendation provided by ATAGI, following international evidence linking a rare blood-clotting condition to the AstraZeneca vaccine in younger people.

ATAGI is the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. They provide recommendations to the Minister for Health regarding the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and other immunisation issues including immunisation research and immunisation policies, procedures and vaccine safety.  Comprising of 14 medical experts, the group is co-chaired by Associate Professor Christopher Blyth, a specialist in paediatric infectious diseases, and Professor Allen Cheng, who specialises in epidemiology and public health.

This article summarises the role of ATAGI, including their recent recommendations to the Government regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine.

To read more follow the link below:

ABC News: ATAGI have told the Prime Minister to pull back on the AstraZeneca vaccine for under 50s and use Pfizer, but who are they?

For more information on ATAGI, please refer to our MVEC reference page:

MVEC: ATAGI