The Australian Government’s Covid-19 booster vaccination rollout program officially started this week (8 November), with the initial focus reportedly on residential aged care and disability facilities.
While everyone living in Australia aged 18 and over who has completed their primary two-dose course of vaccination at least six months ago is now eligible to have an additional booster shot, the booster rollout program will initially target population groups that were prioritised for early vaccination.
However, severely immunocompromised people who have had a third dose to complete their primary course of vaccination are not currently being recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to have a booster dose.
As is the case for the primary course of vaccination, booster doses will be administered for free.
In relation to residential aged care facilities, the booster program will reportedly start with in-reach clinics delivered primarily by vaccine administration providers under contract arrangements with the Commonwealth.
Reportedly, ATAGI recommends the Pfizer vaccine be preferred for the booster dose. This is irrespective of what vaccine a person received for their primary course of vaccination.
With more than 151 million Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna vaccines already secured for supply into the future, Australia is well prepared to provide booster doses as approvals are provided by the medical experts.
In the context of boosters, it is important people know that two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine provide very good protection, especially against severe disease.
A booster dose, six or more months after the second dose, will make sure that the protection from the first doses is even stronger and longer-lasting and should help prevent the spread of the virus.
While this is the formal start of the booster program, as of 6 November, more than 173,000 boosters had already been completed.
In addition to the booster program, today (8 November) also marks the start of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine being administered by community pharmacies.
This mean from today, all primary care sites around the country will progressively be able to offer all three Covid-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia, increasing choice and making it easier for whole families to get vaccinated at the same time.
People eligible for a booster vaccine can make an appointment by visiting australia.gov.au or through the Vaccine Clinic Finder at health.gov.au.
