The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine will be available to Australians aged 18 and over from next week as the federal government announced it has secured 51 million doses to be distributed across the country.
Novavax is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to receive approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The Department of Health said that while Australia's vaccination rates are high, there has been a "demand for a protein-based formula".
"For some people, the arrival of Novavax will be the extra push they need to get their first jab and kick-start their protection against COVID-19," Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.
According to the advice provided by the Australian Technology Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), two vaccines are recommended with a three-week wait in between each dose.
Novavax will be available at some general practices, community pharmacies and state-run vaccination hubs across Australia.
COVID-19 deaths rise across Australia
It comes as another 51 people have died from COVID-19 across Australia.
NSW recorded 19 fatalities, while there were 14 in Queensland, 13 in Victoria, two in South Australia, two in the Northern Territory, and one in Western Australia.
In NSW, the number of patients in hospitals fell from 1,795 to 1,716.
Of those, 108 are in ICU, dropping from 121 on Thursday and Wednesday's 137.
The state reported 8,950 new cases of COVID-19, dropping from 10,130 on Thursday and 10,312 on Wednesday.
In Victoria, 553 people are in hospital after contracting COVID-19, slightly up from 543 on Thursday, with 82 in ICU and 23 on ventilators.
The state recorded 8,521 new infections, down from 9,391 cases on Thursday and 9,908 cases on Wednesday.
The state is preparing to lift its for the state's health system that experienced overwhelming pressure as it dealt with the Omicron outbreak.
The alert was issued in January as hospitals and health services came under increasing pressure and saw non-essential services further cut back and staff leave postponed.
The measure had been in place for just over three weeks and will be lifted at midday on Monday.
Non-urgent elective surgery will also be ramped up from next week, allowing private hospitals to perform up to half of all elective surgery in metropolitan hospitals, and 75 per cent in regional Victoria.
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton has also extended the deadline for another four weeks in order for essential workers to get a booster vaccine.
It means health and aged care, emergency, disability, quarantine and food distribution workers eligible for a third dose before 12 January will now have until 12 March to receive their booster.
Workers in those sectors who became eligible after 12 January must have received their third vaccine dose by 29 March.
Healthcare workers must provide evidence of their vaccination status or a medical exemption to continue working, according to Mr Sutton.
What's happening elsewhere?
Western Australia recorded 51 COVID-19 cases on Friday with Premier Mark McGowan reminding residents to receive their vaccine as soon as possible.
In Queensland, there are currently 584 patients with the virus in public hospitals, 43 of whom are in ICU.
Of the deaths reported on Friday, 10 were aged care residents and all were aged between their 60s and 90s.
The state recorded 5,977 new cases recorded as it announced a $200 million package targeting international airlines.
South Australia reported 1,445 new cases with 210 people in hospital, including 16 in intensive care where five people are on ventilators.
Meanwhile, 13 people are being treated for COVID-19 in Tasmanian hospitals, as the state recorded no new deaths.
Hospital admissions have slightly risen from the 11 reported on Thursday. One of them is in intensive care.
Three of the virus cases are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.
The state recorded 552 new coronavirus cases, a fall from the 637 reported on Thursday.
There were 489 new cases of COVID-19 in the ACT. Of the new cases, 303 were from PCR tests while there were 186 positive rapid antigen tests.
Hospitalisations from the virus have continued to decrease, with 50 patients now in hospital for COVID-19.
Three of the patients are in intensive care, while one is on a ventilator.
The Northern Territory reported 1,096 new infections.
NT Health said 164 people were in hospital with COVID-19 including three in intensive care.
With additional reporting by SBS News.
