By Lucy Carroll and Rachel Clun
Older high school students can now get their COVID-19 booster shot after the country’s expert vaccine panel gave the go-ahead to extend the program to 16 and 17 year olds.
The COVID-19 vaccine program is also likely to be adjusted in the next two weeks to require Australians to have three doses to be considered fully vaccinated as the country’s top health experts prepare to battle a combined wave of flu and coronavirus for the first time this winter.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was pleased ATAGI had worked quickly to recommend the booster rollout be extended to 16 and 17 year olds.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Teenagers who have had two vaccine doses at least three months ago are eligible to receive a third shot at state hubs, GPs and pharmacies after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation extended Pfizer booster approval to that age group.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was pleased ATAGI had worked quickly to recommend the booster rollout be extended to 16 and 17 year olds, following approval for its use by the medical regulator in late January.
“With the return to school this week and many of these young people in, or approaching, their final year of schooling, the ability to extend the vaccine’s protection even further will help provide stability and reassurance during this important period of their studies,” Mr Hunt said.
ATAGI will update its vaccine advice ahead of the next national cabinet meeting in the next fortnight, and the federal government is prepared to roll out fourth-dose boosters if necessary to the entire population.
Severely immunocompromised 16 and 17 year olds will be eligible for a booster dose at least three months after their third primary course dose.
The federal government said there was enough vaccine supply already in the country to provide boosters, but people should use the COVID-19 Clinic Finder and make an appointment with an available provider.
So far more than 8.1 million adults have received a booster. About 90 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds had had two doses as of Wednesday, and it is estimated more than 60 per cent will be eligible for a booster from this week.
ATAGI chairman Professor Nigel Crawford told the COVID-19 committee on Wednesday the group was currently deliberating making three doses the minimum to be fully protected against the coronavirus.
“We will provide advice to government on what we define as up-to-date status of vaccination for COVID-19 and how that may change in theory over time,” he said.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said earlier this week there was no question that a third dose offered the best protection against COVID-19.
“The booster dose ensures the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer-lasting,” he said on Monday.
Earlier this week, Mr Hunt said a fourth dose was also under “active medical consideration” and the government had the supplies to deliver fourth doses to the whole population through the year.
COVID-19 and influenza vaccines can now be administered on the same day after ATAGI updated its advice, in a bid to boost protection against both viruses ahead of winter.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Kelly said unlike the past two winters, the country’s health experts were planning for a wave of influenza infections, with the virus currently circulating in Europe.
“With two years of no flu, it’s likely we will have a flu season. How bad that will be is speculation, but we should, and are, preparing for all eventualities,” he told the COVID committee.
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