“If it is approved by the TGA that will then go to our advisory group on vaccines to consider the way in which this should be rolled out to the community, so I’d expect it to be a matter of some weeks,” Mr Butler said.
“Right through this pandemic, you’ve generally seen a sequence whereby the American authorities will consider vaccines first of all, then the Europeans, and then countries like Australia.
“I think it’s appropriate that those authorities feel that they are able to conduct their work, their legislative work, in a time frame that’s proper. And I’d expect that to happen over coming weeks.”
TGA boss John Skerritt said in February approvals for children under five were likely months away. Younger children will receive half the dosage given to adults.
Mr Butler said more than 6 million Australians already eligible for a booster shot were yet to take one, despite warnings of growing case numbers and deaths this winter.
About 13.8 million people have had at least three doses, the equivalent of 70.3 per cent of the eligible population.
“We need to get the message out that you’re not fully protected against, particularly the omicron variant, unless you have three doses,” Mr Butler told ABC radio.
He said a royal commission or major review of the pandemic response was certain.
“The amount of money spent, the death, the dislocation. We know a very long tail of mental and physical distress will be coming our way over the next couple of years,” he said.
“It would be unthinkable not to have a very deep look at how we responded to that and learn the lessons.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for the removal of face mask mandates on international flights arriving into Australia.
Qantas on Tuesday lifted its requirement for passengers to wear masks on outbound flights to destinations which no longer require face coverings, including the US, the UK and some European countries.
Inbound travel regulations still require masks.
“We’ve taken a decision to take the health advice,” Mr Dutton said. “That’s always prudent, but if you’ve got a situation where on one leg of the flight you’ve got to wear a mask, but not the other, that just doesn’t make sense.”
He said passengers should be allowed to choose to wear masks on international flights.
“I don’t support mandating of it and I agree with Alan Joyce’s position.”
