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- The Australian government says it will roll out a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines to its most vulnerable population starting from April 4
- The decision comes amid a steady rise in cases fuelled by the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant of the Omicron strain and concerns of co-circulation of COVID-19 and flu viruses during colder months as most social distancing restrictions are coming to an end
- A second booster shot will be offered to people who had their previous booster shot at least four months ago and are over 65 years, Aboriginal and Indigenous Australians over 50, people with disability or severely immunocompromised
- Health Minister Mr Greg Hunt said that limiting the fourth dose to the most vulnerable in society is not due to supply issues but of insufficient evidence of additional benefits for the groups not listed
- Mr Hunt also announced the government will no longer make it a condition of entry that travellers have to show a negative COVID test before arrival after April 1
The Australian government has said that it will roll out a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines to its most vulnerable population starting from April 4.
The decision comes amid a steady rise in cases fuelled by the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant of the Omicron strain and concerns of co-circulation of COVID-19 and flu viruses during colder months as most social distancing restrictions are coming to an end.
“A second booster shot will be offered to people who had their previous booster shot at least four months ago and are over 65 years, Aboriginal and Indigenous Australians over 50, people with a disability or severely immunocompromised,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said during a media briefing.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended that the rollout of the additional booster dose for these groups starts from April, coinciding with the rollout of the 2022 flu vaccination program.
“The influenza vaccine can be co-administered with the additional booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine,” ATAGI said in a statement.
“But, if a person is not yet eligible for their additional booster dose, influenza vaccine could be given ahead of the additional booster dose.
“For other groups not listed above, there is insufficient evidence of the benefits of an additional booster dose to make recommendations at this time.”
Mr Hunt said the limiting of the fourth dose to certain groups was not due to supply issues.
“We have sufficient vaccines to dose all Australians not just four times but five times,” he said.
“We are protecting the vulnerable, we are reducing harm.”
Mr Hunt also announced the government’s biosecurity emergency determination would not be renewed after April 17, meaning that the government will no longer make it a condition of entry that travellers have to show a negative COVID test before arrival.
“Given that the vaccination requirements remain and the masking requirements, the medical advice is that [the test] would no longer be required,” Mr Hunt said.
The move follows several other countries, including those in Europe whom have also begun to ditch pre-flight tests.
