Health Minister Mark Butler warns of Covid risk this winter

There has been a new warning about the Covid risk faced by Australians, as the federal government responds to a WHO vaccine change.

The Federal Health Minister has warned the Covid pandemic “ is not over” with future waves of the virus expected in Australia this year.

Mark Butler said cases could climb as Australia entered the cooler months, as he announced new measures to help prevent the spread and impact of Covid.

“This is not over - there will be future waves of Covid across the course of this year,” he said.

Mr Butler said 160,000 extra people would meet the criteria to be prescribed antiviral drug Paxlovid under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Until now, patients who had two risk factors of severe illness were only eligible for the treatment, however that will be reduced to just one risk factor for patients aged between 60 to 69 from this weekend.

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said the Covid pandemic was far from over. Picture: Getty

Mr Butler urged Australians who feel they may need the treatment, to speak with their GP or nurse to and to develop a plan so they are ready in if they catch Covid.

“We know how effective Paxlovid and Molnupiravir – two oral antivirals – are in preventing severe disease and hospitalisation and death,” Mr Butler said.

“This will make a real difference to the experience of many tens of thousands of people aged in their 60s and take real pressure off the hospital system as well.”

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said Australia’s fourth wave of the Omicron variant exceeded the length of previous waves.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” he said

“But in terms of future Covid waves … I think we’ve got a ripple at the moment. Whether that will turn into a wave for the reasons I mentioned, and mentioned in my report, it’s difficult to predict at this stage.”

Covid hospitalisations should be kept down with use of antiviral drugs. Picture: Manly Daily

It comes as The World Health Organisation is no longer recommending additional Covid-19 vaccine booster doses for regular, medium-risk adults.

For such people who have received their primary vaccination course and one booster dose, there is no risk in having further jabs but the returns are slight, the WHO’s vaccine experts said.

The UN health agency’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) issued updated recommendations after its regular biannual meeting

Asked what the implications for Australia’s vaccine program were, a Health Department spokesman said ATAGI will continue to consider all available evidence, including international data and local epidemiology, in assessing and reviewing their recommendations .

“The 2023 booster recommendations are already broadly consistent with the advice of SAGE, where a 2023 booster is recommended for those most at risk of severe impacts of COVID – while other population groups should consider a booster in consultation with their vaccine provider,’ the spokesman said.

“The Australian Government is comfortable with the 2023 booster advice provided by ATAGI earlier this year and strongly encourages all people recommended and eligible for a booster to come forward.”

NEW JAB ADVICE

SAGE’s new advice reflects the impact of the dominant Omicron variant of the virus and high-level immunity now achieved in the population through infection and vaccination, the WHO said.

SAGE came up with three new, simplified priority categories for Covid vaccination: high, medium and low, based on risk of severe disease or death.

The new advice reflects the impact of the dominant Omicron variant of the virus. Picture: AFP

SAGE recommended additional booster shots after the first one only for people at the highest risk of developing severe Covid-19 disease.

They include older adults; younger adults with comorbidities such as diabetes, people with immunocompromising conditions like HIV, pregnant women, and frontline health workers.

The medium priority group includes healthy adults, usually under 60, and children and adolescents with comorbidities.

SAGE recommends a primary series and a first booster dose.

“When it comes to the medium-risk group, additional booster doses … are no longer recommended,” said SAGE chair Hanna Nohynek.

“The vaccine is safe and it’s efficient against serious disease and death,” she said, but for this risk group, while there was no harm in having another shot, “the benefit of these additional boosters is actually quite marginal”.

The low priority group includes healthy children and adolescents aged six months to 17 years.

While primary and booster doses are safe and effective for this group, considering the low burden of Covid disease, SAGE said countries’ vaccination decisions should be based “on contextual factors” such as health programme priorities and cost effectiveness.

Healthy teenagers and children no longer need a Covid vaccine. Picture: AFP

SEARCH FOR NEW VACCINES

As for the impact of Covid-19 vaccines on Long Covid, or post-infection conditions, “the evidence on the extent of their impact is inconsistent”, said SAGE.

Nearly 13.3 billion Covid vaccine doses have been administered around the world.

WHO vaccines chief Kate O’Brien said that versus Omicron, the existing vaccines provide very good immunity against severe disease, but “frankly they don’t last very long for the performance that they do have against mild disease or infection”.

The WHO is looking for new Covid vaccines that cover a broad spectrum of variants, have longer durability and better performance against infection and transmission.

It is also seeking vaccines that are move on from injection methods and ultra cold chain storage, O’Brien said, citing nasal, oral and skin patch vaccine methods.

Speaking of two nasally-administered vaccines, particularly one being used in China, SAGE executive secretary Joachim Hombach said: “We know that they are immunogenic … but what we really need is data that actually studies the impact on transmission – because that could indeed make a major difference.”

Originally published as Health Minister Mark Butler warns of Covid risk this winter