Australia’s expert vaccine panel has made a big call on the latest group of people to be given the green light for booster jabs after three months.
Hundreds of thousands of Australians aged 16 and 17 have been given the green light to get their Covid-19 booster three months after their second dose.
Almost 90 per cent of teenagers in this age group have already received their second dose of the vaccine, with at least two-thirds to be eligible for their booster from Tuesday.
The announcement comes as school students across the country head back to the classroom, despite Omicron circulating across the nation.
Earlier this week, adults over the age of 18 were told they could get their booster after three months.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was pleased the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation had extended Pfizer’s booster approval for that age group, as children head back to school.
“With the return to school this week and many of these young people in, or approaching, their final year of schooling, the ability to extend the vaccine’s protection even further will help provide stability and reassurance during this important period of their studies,” Mr Hunt said.
Those teenagers will be able to receive their booster from state run vaccination hubs, pharmacies and their GPs.
So far, about 90 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds have had two doses, with at least 60 per cent set to be eligible for their booster from this week.
ATAGI is weighing up whether to make three doses the minimum to be fully protected against Covid-19.
Chairman professor Nigel Crawford told the Covid-19 Senate committee on Wednesday the group were considering what “we define as up-to-date status of vaccination for Covid-19, and how that may change in theory over time”.
Chief medical officer Paul Kelly told the committee Australia should prepare for a winter Omicron wave, with a warning the pandemic would not end anytime soon.
Earlier this week, deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd urged all Australians to get their booster as soon as they were eligible.
“The booster dose ensures the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer-lasting,” professor Kidd said on Monday.
He also urged Australians who had recently contracted Covid-19 to come forward for their booster as soon as their symptoms subsided.
ATAGI is also considering whether a fourth dose would be required for the average adult. Currently, severely immunocompromised adults over 18 are eligible for a fourth dose.
Originally published as Children aged 16, 17 become eligible for Covid-19 booster earlier as ATAGI deliberates on more changes
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