Albo cops it for going maskless while getting fourth Covid jab

Anthony Albanese has received another Covid booster shot but his failure to wear a mask has left some people fuming.

Anthony Albanese has rolled up his sleeve for his second booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, but his failure to wear a mask has drawn flak.

The Prime Minister received his fourth shot at a Sydney pharmacy on Tuesday, a day before he departs for Fiji to attend the Pacific Islands Forum.

At 59-years-old, Mr Albanese is part of the age bracket which has been recommended to have a fourth dose of the vaccine as infections surge.

He opted for a pharmacy in Rozelle in his inner-west electorate of Grayndler, where he was photographed smiling as he received his jab before posing for a selfie with a customer.

Anthony Albanese received his fourth Covid-19 shot on Tuesday. Picture: AAP / Dean Lewins

The Prime Minister promoted footage of himself getting the jab on his social media pages, but several people questioned his failure to don a mask, suggesting he should lead by example.

“Please normalise mask wearing again … as in do it!” one Facebook user wrote on Mr Albanese’s post.

“Where is your mask!?! Had booster today, big relief. Way too much Covid about,” posted another.

Someone else wrote: “Please lead by example and mask up.”

Several Twitter users also questioned Mr Albanese’s failure to wear a mask.

“Where are your masks? Very poor messaging,” one tweet read.

The federal government last week opened up fourth dose Covid-19 vaccinations to people aged 30 and over, and recommend fourth doses to people aged 50 to 64.

The changes are in line with advice from the expert immunisation panel ATAGI and come amid a winter wave of Covid-19 infections, as well as the emergence of new variants.

Mr Albanese opted for the Adore Compounding Pharmacy in his electorate of Grayndler. Picture: AAP / Dean Lewins

Health Minister Mark Butler last week warned Australians that two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine would no longer be enough to protect them against the virus.

“We’ve got the information campaigns out there. States are drumming home this message. Health experts are drumming home this message,” Mr Butler said.

“I think Australians are starting to see the impact of this growing third wave on their health and hospital systems through the winter, compounded by the impact of influenza as well.”

Mr Albanese poses for a selfie with a customer at the pharmacy. Picture: AAP / Dean Lewins

Mr Butler said the government hadn’t set a target for the uptake of fourth doses.

“We want to see the wonderful response to the first two-dose campaign, where more than 95 per cent of over 16s now have had two doses of vaccine,” he said.

“Let’s work to maximise that number because we know two doses is not sufficient protection against these Omicron numbers.

“We don’t have a number. We want to encourage individuals to act on that health advice.”

Mr Butler also said he had “put a strong case” to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme advisory committee asking them to expand access to antiviral treatments for the virus.