SA’s health authorities say three doses of Covid vaccine should be enough

ICU staff are ‘sick and tired’ of dealing with regrets from people who have not been vaccinated – and authorities say three jabs should be enough for those under 65.

Most South Australians will be protected from a dangerous Covid-19 infection without the need for more booster shots, the state’s top doctor says.

But chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said new Omicron variants may spark a need for a fourth vaccine dose.

Speaking at the launch of a campaign to boost sluggish third dose rates, Professor Spurrier said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation expert panel’s advice was a fourth dose was only necessary for patients older than 65. Federal data shows more than 35,000 people in SA have a fourth jab.

“For the rest of us who don’t have those high-risk factors, then we should be fine with the three doses,” Prof Spurrier said. “Now, we know that the pandemic throws curveballs.

“We need to be thinking about other variants coming down the track. It may be if that happens … the suggestion will be to have another dose.”

Dr Mark Plummer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, Health Minister Chris Picton and Premier Peter Malinauskas at the RAH. Picture: Todd Lewis

Royal Adelaide Hospital director of ICU research Mark Plummer said intensive care was a “shocking situation”.

“What we’re getting sick and tired of, is having to speak with families at the bedside and dealing with the regret of not having been fully vaccinated,” Dr Plummer said.

Dr Plummer said the data for vaccinations is extremely clear – you’re not fully vaccinated unless you’ve had three doses of the vaccine.

He implored people to consider their families, as they are the ones who have to deal with the really sick patients.

“The patients are on a ventilator, they can’t speak for themselves. They’re unconscious. And so that grief is held by their family. And that regret is not (there) if they haven’t been fully vaccinated,” he said.

“So if I can, please consider your family, speaking with me and my colleagues at the hospital in the case that you were to get extremely sick with Covid.”

Prof Spurrier urged people to get a flu shot before winter amid low take-up rates, the specific details of which were unavailable.

Latest SA Health data shows 371 influenza A cases so far this year, which is five times more than the 40 patients overall in 2021.

More than 377,000 flu doses are available for free from SA Health for people older than 65, children aged between six months and five years, or high-risk cohorts, which officials say is enough supply.

Data shows almost 393,000, or almost a third, eligible double-vaxxed adults have failed to have a third Covid dose.

Prof Spurrier said “the science is absolutely crystal clear”. “If you’ve three doses, then your chance of dying with Covid is very, very low but it increases substantially if you’re not fully vaccinated,” she said.

Dr Mark Plummer with Health Minister Chris Picton in the rear. Picture: Todd Lewis

Senior government sources say if the rate lifts by “even 5 per cent then that will make a significant difference”.

Premier Peter Malinauskas defended the campaign’s cost.

“In the context of what it costs to have someone in hospital, let alone in intensive care, a $2m campaign seems like an incredibly wise investment,” he said.

“If that just moves the dial a little bit … and we’re more ambitious than a little bit, that will pay back very quickly by preventing hospitalisations.”

Cabinet’s Emergency Management Council will meet on Tuesday.

It is expected Mr Malinauskas will raise the pressure for public health law changes to pass parliament next week so the Emergency Declaration can be scrapped.

“Without the legislation passing it could compromise the Emergency Management declaration going,” a senior goverment source said.

The Opposition is considering the laws, which last week passed the Lower House, but has raised concerns about the six month’s length of laws and a lack of appeal mechanism over fines.

A decision will by its partyroom either later this week or next Monday.

The Greens have indicated they were broadly supportive of the laws that are now due to be debated in the Upper House next week.

Originally published as SA’s health authorities say three doses of Covid vaccine should be enough