Hundreds of Moderna COVID vaccine doses will be distributed to pharmacies across the Territory in coming days, NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles has announced.
The Moderna vaccine, which is already in use across much of the world, uses the same mRNA technology as the Pfizer vaccine.
Ms Fyles said the vaccine batch arrived in Australia late last week and was being tested by the Therapeutic Goods Administration before distribution to NT pharmacies later this week.
"Over 55 per cent of Territorians are fully vaccinated and we will continue to see that number rise over the coming weeks," she said.
"Vaccination is the best tool in going back to life as the way we knew it."
Anyone over 12 years old will be eligible to receive the vaccine at their local pharmacist, Ms Fyles said.
Judith Oliver, NT branch director at the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, said 19 pharmacies across locations such as Alice Springs, Katherine, Palmerston and Darwin would help deliver the Moderna doses.
"The pharmacies will get about 100 doses — or up to 300 depending on how big the pharmacy is — in the first week," Ms Oliver said.
"And then there will be monthly allocations after that of about similar numbers. But yes, [we'll have] a steady stream over the next three to four months."
Ms Oliver encouraged Territorians to book in a vaccine appointment at their local pharmacy.
Like the other vaccines approved for use in Australia, the Moderna formula requires two doses to strengthen your immune system against COVID-19.
Moderna doses are recommended to be administered four weeks apart, compared with the three-week interval between Pfizer shots and the eight- to 12-week wait between AstraZeneca shots.
