Demand for booster shots is rocketing as Omicron threatens

Booster vaccinations are soaring as the Omicron variant threatens and rules change but doctors say GPs are not being given enough support to meet demand.

South Australian Covid-19 authorities are considering bringing forward the date for a booster shot as demand for third jabs surges after the Omicron variant arrived in South Australia.

The total number of third doses including boosters in South Australia jumped from 38,727 on December 7 to 52,484 a week later.

Third doses include those given to people who are severely immunocompromised as part of their primary course, while booster shots are for people aged over 18 who have had two shots as their primary course.

Last Sunday the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended booster vaccination for anyone aged 18 and older who had completed their primary course of vaccination five or more months ago, rather than six months.

On the same day it approved Moderna for a booster shot and says Pfizer or Moderna are considered equally acceptable.

This is regardless of the type of vaccine taken for initial doses such as AstraZeneca, which is not recommended as a booster shot.

Overnight ATAGI also recommended that anyone eligible for a booster shot before or during the December and New Year holiday period (up to January 3), can receive their jab sooner than five months - but five months remains the official waiting period.

On Friday, Premier Steven Marshall and chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, revealed authorities were considering shortening the current waiting period.

“We’re looking at that from a more pragmatic point of view to see whether we should be looking at dropping it from the five months,” Prof Spurrier said.

“But at any rate, there’s still a large number of people in South Australia even at five months or six months who haven’t had that third dose.

“So I really want to urge those people to get in and get their booster or third dose now.

“I know that you’ve got Christmas coming up and you’ve got other things to do. But this is really, really strong message for me today to go and get that done.”

Prof Spurrier said emerging evidence shows a third dose is likely to be required to produce optimal protection against Omicron.

“The increase in third doses provided over the past week shows South Australians are rolling up for this important additional dose to increase their immunity and protect themselves with the best possible protection against Covid-19,” she said.

She also revealed that authorities were considering changing the definition of being fully vaccinated from two doses to three.

SA Health vaccinator Xuan gives a Covid booster vaccine at Wayville Vaccination Clinic. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

A vial of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. (Picture: Philippe Lopez/AFP)

But later on Friday, Australia’s chief medical officer said the nation’s immunisation authority had ruled out further accelerating of time frames for boosters despite “very rapid transmission” across the country.

“We’re staying five months duration between the second dose and the third dose,” said

Professor Paul Kelly after a late-night meeting with immunisation experts.

“It remains anyone who has had their second dose five or more months after that – they are now eligible for that booster dose.”

Professor Kelly said ATAGI was urging GPs and pharmacies to be flexible if a person was going on holidays or if services were to close over Christmas.

“If you’re a week or two before the five months, you know, that’s fine. But mostly the five months is the time they want to stress,” he said.

An ATAGI statement said: “As of the 11 December 2021, the weight of evidence suggests that a booster vaccine increases antibody levels substantially and this will likely offer protection against both Delta and the new Omicron variant,”

A federal booster program is being rolled out in residential aged care facilities where many are now due for their booster dose.

Premier Steven Marshall urged people to get their booster when eligible.

“We really, really encourage people who were in those early days of getting vaccine shots to get their boosters,” he said.

“The vast majority of people will become eligible in February and that will be a busy time for these boosters.”

SA Health is only offering Pfizer as a booster at its clinics, while Moderna can be obtained through GPs and pharmacies, depending on supply.

AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid warned the national booster program is falling behind and called for more support for GPs and pharmacists.

“By the end of this month close to four million people will be eligible for the booster, however, in the last week Australia has only been able to administer just over 210,000 booster doses,” he said.

“Last week GPs around the country administered about 251,000 vaccine doses, including booster shots. Compare this to mid-October when GPs were administering about 975,000 vaccines doses each week.”