Australians who have waited more than six months to get their booster shot will be classified as “overdue” under changes to what it means to be “up to date: with COVID vaccines.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation released its latest advice on Thursday.
Under the changes, which were welcomed by national cabinet and accepted by the Federal Governmxjmtzywent, a person must have completed all the doses recommended for their age and individual health needs to be deemed “up to date”.
ATAGI currently recommends that anyone aged 16 years and older receive a booster dose three months after their primary course.
The nation’s vaccine advisory body also recommended defining anyone who had waited longer than six months to get their booster shot since their primary course “overdue”.
The new advice will not apply to international travellers and there will be no three-dose mandate introduced nationally, with the exception of aged care workers.
“ATAGI has noted that this advice is provided for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic here in Australia and does not cover the vaccination requirements relating to international border settings,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
ATAGI recommended the new advice be implemented by the end of March 2022 to allow “sufficient” time to implement the changes and take into account any impact to a person’s COVID immunisation certificate.
It also noted that people will still able to safely get their booster after six months to be deemed “up to date” instead of “overdue”.
State and Territory leaders met with the Prime Minister for national cabinet on Thursday afternoon, where the updated ATAGI advice was welcomed.
But it was agreed no three-dose mandates would be introduced nationally.
States will still have the option to introduce local mandates, however it was noted that it would be difficult to enforce.
Australia is due to reopen to vaccinated travellers from February 21 and many overseas countries don’t have booster programs.
A mandate would mean Aussies would have to be triple dosed while tourists would only be required to have two jabs.
“Booster doses are readily available for everyone over 16 years of age three months after they have received their last primary dose,” Mr Hunt said.
Children and young people under 16 will continue to be considered ‘up to date’ without a booster.
Severely immunocompromised people aged five years and older will require a third primary dose to remain “up to date”.
