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- Australia’s COVID-19 booster shot program opens today with anyone aged over 18 who received their second vaccine at least six months ago eligible
- While Pfizer has been recommended as the booster shot, AstraZeneca hasn’t been ruled out for those who received it as their primary vaccine
- While two doses still offer protection, the booster will make sure that protection is even stronger, longer-lasting and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Australia is the second country in the world, behind Israel, to begin a COVID-19 booster shot program
- While today marks the official start of the booster program, more than 173,000 boosters have already been administered
Australia’s COVID-19 booster shot program has opened today, with anyone aged over 18 who received their second vaccine at least six months ago eligible.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the Pfizer vaccine for the booster – irrespective of what vaccine a person received for their primary course of vaccination.
However, AstraZeneca hasn’t been ruled out for people who received it as their primary vaccine or if they had a serious reaction to an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer.
While two doses still offer protection, the booster will make sure that protection is even stronger, longer-lasting and helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Australian government has said that people would not be required to receive a booster shot in order to be exempt from COVID-19 restrictions.
Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, commented on the booster program.
“A booster in that it adds additional protection, and that helps limit the risk of getting the disease, of passing on the disease, and most importantly, of people becoming very ill, needing hospitalisation or potentially losing their life,” Minister Hunt told Sunrise this morning.
“So the booster program is in Australia, after Israel, one of the first in the world, and it’s available to all Australians who have now passed six months since their second dose.”
Moderna vaccines have been included in the booster program, but the company is waiting on final approval from the medical regulator.
While today marks the official start of the booster program, more than 173,000 boosters have already been administered.
Minister Hunt also said children aged between five and 11 are unlikely to begin being vaccinated this year.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is yet to give the green light to any COVID-19 vaccines to this age group.
“Our kids are far less likely to either get or, in particular, to have serious complications, but we want to make that vaccine available and we’ll be able to do that as soon as the medical regulators approve it, if they approve it.”
