The Australian Government’s COVID-19 booster vaccination rollout program is now officially underway, with the initial focus on residential aged care and disability facilities.
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.
Population groups that were prioritised for early vaccination will be initially targeted by the booster vaccination rollout program since they have had their second dose six or more months ago.
Same with the primary course of vaccination, booster doses will be administered for free.
For residential aged care facilities, the booster program will start with in-reach clinics. The booster shots will be delivered primarily by vaccine administration providers under contract arrangements with the Commonwealth.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine be preferred for the booster dose irrespective of what vaccine a person received for their primary course of vaccination.
With over 151 million Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna vaccines already secured, the country is well prepared to provide booster doses once approvals have been provided by the medical experts.
However, severely immunocompromised people who have had a third dose to complete their primary course of vaccination are not currently being recommended by ATAGI to have a booster dose.
While two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine provide very good protection especially against severe effects of the virus, a booster dose given six or more months after the second dose will make sure that the vaccine protection is even stronger and longer-lasting while helping to prevent the spread of the virus.
While this is the formal start of the booster program, as of Saturday over 173,000 boosters had already been completed.
Today also marks the start of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine being administered by community pharmacies.
Starting 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.
Source: Department of Health Media Release