The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its recommendations for a winter dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
These are:
- Adults aged 50 to 64 years are now recommended to receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Adults aged 30 to 49 years can receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, however the benefit for people in this age group is less certain.
- The interval recommended between a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection or the first booster dose and a winter booster dose is now 3 months.
People previously eligible for a winter booster dose are at a higher risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 and should receive a winter booster dose as soon as possible. ATAGI advises that individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of the variant, should continue to receive recommended vaccine doses, after an interval of 3 months. This is because a previous infection will not provide sufficient protection against severe disease.
The full detailed recommendations are available on the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care website.
