PM’s dig at states over booster shots

Both states have mandated the third jabs for health workers, with WA even making it a requirement for some other industries too.

But the Prime Minister on Thursday appeared to be at loggerheads with both states.

“Just because someone becomes eligible for a booster, does not mean that if they have not had their booster by that day they are overdue,” he said.

“That is something that’s been pedalled out there which is not accurate, it’s not true.

“You become eligible from a particular date and from that date, we encourage people to go and have their booster.

“To suggest that if someone has not had their booster by that date that they are somehow overdue is false.”

WA was the first jurisdiction to mandate the third dose.

It covers industries including aged care, health, quarantine staff, mining and essential workers.

Premier Mark McGowan said at the time that he also expected to eventually extend the mandate to anyone wanting to attend events, such as sport and concerts.

SA Premier Steven Marshall announced this week that his government would “likely” make it compulsory for frontline healthcare, aged care and disability workers to have their third dose within two weeks of becoming eligible.

Only once they get that booster shot, they will they be considered fully vaccinated.

So far across Australia, 2.3m of the 3.9m people eligible for their booster shot has had the jab, which represents about 57 per cent.

Originally published as Prime Minister takes a swipe at WA and SA over booster shots