Health minister Greg Hunt accepted advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to add the recently approved Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to the list of those administered to people aged 18 and over.
The TGA approved the vaccine, NUVAXOVID, last week and Minister Hunt said it will be distributed for administration "in coming weeks" with ATAGI recommending it be given in two doses, at least three weeks apart.
Australia has an agreement to purchase 51 million doses of NUVAXOVID.
"Samples of the Novavax vaccines are set to arrive in Australia in early February to enable TGA batch testing," said Minister Hunt.
"Subject to successful TGA batch testing, the Novavax vaccine will be available to be administered from the week of 21 February 2022."
It will be distributed through general practices, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, Commonwealth vaccination centres, as well as state and territory clinics.
NUVAXOVID is not yet approved for use as a booster dose but studies are ongoing.
Minister Hunt continued, "ATAGI recommends the Novavax vaccine can be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
"It also advises the vaccine can be used for people who are severely immunocompromised and who are recommended to receive three doses for their primary course of vaccination."