Big clue on fourth booster shots

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will discuss expanding the fourth-dose rollout to include those aged under 65 when it meets on Tuesday.

It comes as the country grapples with more infectious sub-variants and declining vaccine protection against the virus.

There are currently more than 3500 Australians hospitalised with Covid, according the Department of Health, despite more than 95 per cent of the population aged over 16 considered to be fully vaccinated.

ATAGI last month expanded fourth-dose eligibility to include those who are immunocompromised regardless of their age, with the benefits of incorporating the wider population to be discussed by the Covid working group while the nation struggles to shake off the disease.

Perth-based GP Dr Sean Stevens recently told the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners a fourth dose could make sense for those most at risk but wasn’t favourable for fit and healthy Australians.

“I think healthcare workers are like any other members of society and the healthcare workers who are at risk do qualify … and should be front of the line for getting the fourth winter dose,” he told newsGP.

“This evidence is that a fourth dose in vulnerable populations will reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation, but a fourth dose in healthy people doesn’t significantly reduce your risk of catching Covid.

“If you’re a fit, healthy healthcare worker, then there’s probably not a lot of point.”

Infectious Diseases physician Paul Griffin backed a widely available fourth dose, however, telling The Daily Telegraph it would make sense amid spiking transmission.

“We have more infectious sub-variants where our vaccine protection is waning,” he said.

“I think particularly as we go through what looks to be a very significant wave of transmission, increasing access to that fourth dose would make sense.”

National Party leader David Littleproud said it was important Australians could make their own choice about a fourth jab.

“We need to take the medical advice but I would be very cautious about any more mandates,” Mr Littleproud told Channel 9.

“(Australians) simply want to make a choice for themselves about whether they need that extra dose.

“You need to be able to make that personal choice of whether you need to have that or not.”

Australia is currently recording about 30,000 cases a day.

Originally published as Fourth-dose rollout on the cards as Covid immunity wanes