Push for definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ to be changed nationwide

Aussies may soon need three Covid jabs to be considered fully vaccinated, with the change to be pushed at tomorrow’s emergency national cabinet meeting.

Australians who are currently fully vaccinated against Covid-19 could have that title stripped away unless they get a third jab under a proposed new rule.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to meet with state and territory leaders on Wednesday for an emergency national cabinet meeting to discuss the growing number of Omicron cases in the country.

Previously, the body was not scheduled to meet until early next year.

One of the main topics up for discussion is expected to be booster shots, with some health experts and groups, including the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), pushing for the wait time between the second and third jab to be slashed a second time.

The group is reportedly also reviewing whether Australians should be required to have three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine to be considered fully immunised, according to 7News.

The federal government’s chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has written to the Prime Minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers urging the reinstatement of mandatory mask-wearing indoors amid the rapid spread of the Omicron Covid variant.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Speaking on behalf of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) ahead of Wednesday’s emergency national cabinet meeting, Prof Kelly said mask mandates should be reimposed before case numbers rise too high.

“Masks should be mandated in all indoor settings including retail, hospitality when not eating or drinking, and entertainment facilities,” said the advice sent to leaders, first reported on by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Implementation of mask-wearing measures should occur prior to Omicron case escalation to have maximum benefit.”

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Morrison urged premiers to be “calm and consistent” in their messaging around Christmas travel restrictions.

The Prime Minister visited a logistics business in Brisbane on Monday to unveil a new truckies apprenticeship program. At a media conference afterwards, he was asked whether he held concerns for the airline sector.

“It’s very important we get some clearer certainty about what arrangements are,” he said.

“Australians need to know that if they are going to get on a plane and get somewhere, they can get off at the other end, they can do what they want to do, and return home.

“I would urge for greater certainty around those arrangements.

“We are taking Omicron very seriously, every state and territory is, but we will keep our head, interrogate the data closely, take the best medical advice we possibly can to make the right decisions for the Australian conditions.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Mr Morrison confirmed he had convened an “informal” national cabinet meeting for Wednesday.

“I have convened that, the purpose of it was to give everybody an update on the information we have and share the information the states and territories have,” he said.

“It’s not unusual we would be meeting more regularly with Omicron being where it is.”

The Prime Minister was asked to deliver a message to Australians who may be increasingly nervous about travelling over Christmas in case premiers don’t end up holding their nerves amid high case numbers.

“These are points we will discuss tomorrow, that is why I would urge there be calm and consistent messages given about travel arrangements and the requirements,” he said.

“Do you feel they will hold their nerves?” a reporter asked.

“What’s very important, and we did this when we worked through the national plan … it is important we do what we always sought to do, which is to save lives and livelihoods,” Mr Morrison answered

“Protect lives and livelihoods – we want to stay safe but we also want to stay safely open, so our economy can continue to grow and people can get into jobs and they can restore their incomes.

“It is about getting that balance right.”

When asked about whether he supported a mask mandate, Mr Morrison said it “should be” a choice, using an example of how he was watching the Christmas carols with his family in his Sydney electorate the night before.

“I was at the carols in the Shire last night and it was magnificent and fantastic, I really enjoyed it with the family,” he said.

“We were all wearing masks, not everyone was, but we chose to, and that’s how it should be.

“As a country, and as Australians there are many things we are responsible for and our own health is one of those things.

“Governments have been telling Australians what to do now for the last couple of years and Australians have grown tired of that.

“The way we are able to live with that is Australians making their own positive decisions about their own health.”

Mandatory mask-wearing may still be introduced.

On the subject of booster shots, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has called for them to be brought forward to four months since receiving your second jab.

Mr Hazzard’s comments came after NSW broke its daily case record again on Monday.

“I worry that ATAGI are holding back on giving what is logical advice for earlier boosters because of concerns that pharmacies and GPs will be shutting down for Christmas,” he said.

“There needs to be careful explanation that while there may be wait time in some places, people should still be eligible from the four-month mark.”

The AHPPC has warned that Omicron could “strain health system capacity” even if the variant turns out to cause milder illness, and it has recommended “minimal to moderate restrictions”.

The advisory body has said it “will continue to monitor the evidence and update its advice accordingly”. It’s also launched a public awareness campaign “to reflect the importance and urgency of receiving booster doses once eligible”.

“Continued strong partnership between the Commonwealth, states and territories, GPs, pharmacies, the Aboriginal community controlled sector and other providers will be required in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth and rapid rollout of boosters,” the document said.

“Clear messaging is needed to maximise uptake of booster doses, including if ATAGI recommends accelerating shortening the duration between the second dose of vaccine and booster dose.”

At national cabinet, state premiers will reportedly urge Mr Morrison to agree to speed up the schedule for booster shots.

NSW recorded 2,501 new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths on Monday.

There are 261 people in hospital, with 33 in intensive care and 11 requiring a ventilator. The new cases brought NSW’s total number of active cases to 16,225.

Of those aged 16 and over, 94.9 per cent have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 93.4 per cent are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 1302 new Covid-19 cases on Monday. There are 406 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus, 81 in intensive care and 43 on a ventilator.