Australians over the age of 30 will be eligible to receive a fourth COVID-19 shot as early as next week, as more cases of the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 emerge. This comes after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) met on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of expanding eligibility for the fourth…

Commentary When both the Queensland and Northern Territory governments decided to withdraw COVID-19 vaccine mandates in some settings in early April, their imposition was hailed a great success. Indeed, infectious diseases physician Dr Paul Griffin said: “It doesn’t mean they weren’t the right thing to do at the time, I think it was very important…

Australia’s leading vaccine advisory group is considering whether to approve COVID-19 boosters for 12 to 15-year-olds. As the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) last week moved to approve the fourth dose for elderly and at-risk people, the group is also weighing up whether to expand the vaccine rollout for young people. A statement…

Australia’s technical advisory group on immunisations (ATAGI) has approved a fourth “winter booster” dose of COVID-19 vaccine for vulnerable and older Australians in a bid to increase “vaccine protection.” Following the footsteps of countries including Italy, Chile, and Canada, ATAGI recommended the fourth jab to Australians over 65, Indigenous Australians over 50, those in disability…

Australian officials are requiring disability support workers to get a third dose of an approved COVID-19 shot or risk losing their jobs. Previously, the recommendation was two vaccine doses for disability workers, but due to new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), this has been updated to include the third or…

The decision to change the definition of fully vaccinated from two to three jabs could create confusion if Australian state governments decide to expand current booster mandates, according to vaccine developer Nikolai Petrovsky. On Feb. 10, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), announced that individuals would only be considered “fully vaccinated” or “up-to-date” if…

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) cannot rule out four or five doses for COVID-19 vaccines for Australians to be “up to date.” The chair for ATAGI, Nigel Crawford said that his organisation will continue to monitor data from other countries administering four doses at the senate hearing on Feb. 16. ATAGI announced…

The head of Australia’s technical advisory body to the health minister has not ruled out changing the definition of what constitutes being fully vaccinated or “up to date” to four or five jabs. The chair for the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), Nigel Crawford said that his organisation will continue to monitor data from…

The ATAGI has updated its guidelines around COVID-19 vaccinations saying that Australians will need three COVID-19 vaccine doses to be considered fully vaccinated on Feb. 10. For Australians to be “up-to-date” on their COVID-19 vaccinations, it is now recommended that they have a booster shot within three months to 6 months from the primary course for…

Australia will begin rolling out the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine at select general practices, community pharmacies, and state clinics across the country for Australians aged 18 and over from Feb. 14, one week earlier than planned. It is the first protein-based vaccine approved for Australians, allowing people who have allergies to certain ingredients used in approved…