Australian Government

Sputnik V (Gamaleya Institute) vaccine is now recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration for the purpose of establishing a traveller’s vaccination status.

The recognition of Sputnik V will expand options for the return of international students, travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia, and travel by business people and elite sports people to our country.

National Cabinet met today to discuss our response to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, approaches to testing, trace isolate and quarantine including the use of rapid antigen tests (RATs) and the vaccine rollout and booster programme.

Vaccinations for 5 to 11 year olds commenced on Monday 10 January. In only three days over 140,000 vaccinations have been administered, accounting for 6.2% of all 5-11 year olds.

National Cabinet noted that jurisdictions had placed significant orders for supplies of Rapid Antigen Tests with increasing numbers of tests available over coming weeks through state and territory clinics and the private sector. PCR tests continue to be available in all state and territory clinics with significant reductions in testing times across all jurisdictions.

National Cabinet agreed that priority access to Rapid Antigen Testing is for those in the health and aged care sectors as well as people who are symptomatic, close contacts as well as vulnerable populations, such as remote Indigenous communities.

National Cabinet agreed to the importance of keeping critical sectors open and agreed to extend the furlough arrangements in place for food and grocery supply chain workers to other sectors.