03.12.2021
1 min read

ATAGI makes recommendation on whether Omicron will impact vaccine booster rollout

The variant of concern earlier forced Australia to revisit how soon COVID-19 booster shots could be delivered.

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Australia’s peak vaccine advisory board has recommended no changes be made to the country’s COVID-19 booster program despite the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly on Friday confirmed the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had handed down its advice.

“There is no evidence to suggest at the moment that an earlier booster dose of the current COVID-19 vaccines will augment the protection against the Omicron variant,” ATAGI said.

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They are currently recommended for six months after a second vaccine dose.

“So in summary, no change,” Professor Kelly added.

ATAGI has not recommended any changes to the vaccine booster rollout program. Credit: BRENDON THORNE/AAPIMAGE

The booster program remains the same as originally announced.

Six months after a person receives their second dose of vaccine, they’re recommended to get a booster.

Regardless of which brand the first two doses of vaccine were, the booster will be an MRNA vaccine.

“It is really important now, with the emergence of the Omicron variant, that we do go ahead and get that booster when people are due,” Professor Kelly said.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly at a press conference in Canberra. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Australia has currently detected nine cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Eight of those are in New South Wales while one was in the Northern Territory.

Two of the cases are causing the most concern - both in NSW - because they were in the community while potentially infectious before new quarantine requirements came into effect at the weekend.