Andrews continues three-jab push, says it won’t cost state

Premier Daniel Andrews has continued calls for national consensus on COVID-19 boosters, but has insisted Victorians will not be disadvantaged even if the state requires international travellers to have three vaccination doses.

Mr Andrews said on Tuesday he would not make an exemption for international visitors who entered the country under the federal government’s two-dose rules from February 21, paving the way for a spat with the federal government.

Premier Daniel Andrews said a “consistent approach” was needed.Credit: Eddie Jim

Experts say requiring three vaccinations for incoming travellers would make essentially no difference to Victoria’s COVID-19 situation, given high levels of existing transmission. The state recorded 9908 new cases on Wednesday.

“There is so much circulating it does not matter what happens at the borders to be quite honest,” said the University of Melbourne’s Professor Tony Blakely.

But Mr Andrews said he believed the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation was poised to finalise guidance on whether a third dose should be required under the definition of fully vaccinated.

He said he hoped for a nationally consistent approach but declined to say whether he had been discussing the issue with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“We need a consistent approach if that’s what we can get,” Mr Andrews said.

“You’re not going to be getting me sending messages that two [doses] is enough. I think what’s going to happen quite soon with ATAGI, they’re going to say that two isn’t enough. But let’s try and have a consistent approach. I’m not going to see Victorians disadvantaged ... We will not be doing anything that damages the Victorian economy.”

A spokeswoman for federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed ATAGI was expected to finalise its advice this week for consideration by national cabinet on Friday.

Mr Morrison on Monday announced Australia’s borders would reopen to international travellers who’ve had two doses of a vaccine from February 21. He said three doses would not be the requirement, although ATAGI is yet to provide its guidance.

“It will be two [doses]. There are various arguments around the world for three doses. Two doses is what the Chief Medical Officer says is sufficient,” he said on Monday.

Forty-six per cent of Victorians over 18 have so far had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 93 per cent of people over 12 have had two jabs.

Proof of vaccination is required to visit venues, outlets offering hair and beauty services, restaurants and pubs in Victoria. NSW lifted vaccination rules for the same settings in December, though businesses are allowed to enforce them.

Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham urged Mr Andrews to reconsider his three-jab mandate, which he said would be the “crippling blow” to tourism in an interview with Nine Network’s Today program.

A model published by Professor Blakely’s team in 2021 suggested infected travellers would pose a major risk to controlling COVID-19. But now Omicron was spreading so widely, new infections from overseas would not make much of a difference, he said.

“I think it’s a sensible measure to have in place, but at this point in time it’s not going to change things too much.”

Dr Michael Lydeamore, an infectious disease modeller at Monash University, said even unvaccinated international travellers had a minimal effect on transmission.

“The big gain from the booster vaccine is against severe disease more than transmission, so I guess in that sense travellers are less likely to end up in hospitals, which is good news for a stretched health system,” he said.

There are also practical questions about Mr Andrews’ expectations for a third booster to be mandated.

Before the pandemic, China was our largest source of tourists. The country’s booster rate sits at 31 per cent, and there is some evidence suggesting a third dose of one of the country’s widely used vaccines fails to provide adequate protection.

Mr Andrews acknowledged there could be imperfections and questioned whether the federal government could supply boosters for international arrivals who need it.

Victoria has not announced a policy mandating three doses for the broader community while it waits on updated ATAGI advice.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said he believed two doses were enough, even if ATAGI changed its advice to require people to receive three doses to be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“I didn’t realise the Premier was the minister for border control,” Mr Guy said. “I’m encouraging people to get a booster, I’ve had a booster, that’s the sensible thing to do. But we can’t say well three is [fully vaccinated], actually no four is, actually no five is. It’s time to move on.”

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.