Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe for people living with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C? Australia has strict requirements for the testing and approval of vaccines. Before a COVID-19 vaccine is approved for use in Australia, it must: pass several different phases of clinical trials to prove the vaccine is safe and effective; and pass the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) rigorous assessment and approval processes. This includes assessment of the vaccine’s safety, quality and effectiveness.1 People with liver disease were included in the trials of Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines but excluded from the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines. There was no data to suggest that the vaccines cause harm to people living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C.2 For more information on how COVID-19 vaccines are tested and approved, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website. References (2021, May). About the COVID-19 vaccines. Retrieved from healthdirect: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid-19-vaccination/about-the-covid-19-vaccines (2021, April 14). FAQs for clinicians about covid-19 vaccines and people living with Hepatitis B/Hepatitis C-related chronic liver disease. Retrieved from ASHM: https://ashm.org.au/covid-19/clinical-care/faqs-for-clinicians-about-covid-19-vaccines-and-hepatitis/ Updated 14 July 2021 Manage Cookie Preferences