Key Points
- Queenslanders are no longer required to wear face masks on public transport
- WHO advises against two COVID-19 antibody treatments
- Global health authorities track two new subvariants
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved Pfizer's booster dose in children aged 5-11.
However, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is yet to review the vaccine and recommend it to Health Minister.
Queensland has become the latest state to scrap face mask rules on public transport, including taxi and rideshare services.
Residents are also not required to wear face masks while waiting on a platform, at a stop, taxi rank or pick-up area.
Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are the only jurisdictions that still require residents to wear face masks on public buses and trains.
The ACT could scrap its face mask requirement on public transport by the end of the month.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney said the government was investing in a new study on COVID-19 vaccines and infection.
The study will evaluate the immune response in children and adults with chronic conditions, such as kidney and lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic diseases, people living with HIV and organ transplants.
The World Health Organization has advised against two antibody treatments sotrovimab and casirivimab-imdevimab.
It said these treatments are not effective against COVID-19.
Researchers are tracking a new variant named BF.7.
The variant, also known as BA.5.2.1.7, has been found in several countries but is responsible for more than 25 per cent of infections in Belgium and nearly 10 per cent in France, Germany and Denmark.
Another new variant BA.4.6 remains a matter of concern as it constitutes more than 10 per cent of infections in the US.
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