The Australian Government has accepted advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) that all adults aged 75 years and older should receive an additional 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose if six months have passed since their last dose.
The Government has also accepted a recommendation from ATAGI that adults aged 65 to 74 years, or those aged 18 to 64 years who are severely immunocompromised, should consider an additional dose if six months have passed since their last dose, in consultation with their healthcare provider.
The latest advice recognises that older age remains the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease.
The primary aim of COVID-19 vaccination continues to be to reduce the risk of serious illness and death. This is particularly important for older adults and those with risk factors for severe disease.
Much of the Australian population, particularly younger people with no other medical conditions, are currently well protected due to a combination of previous vaccinations and prior infection. This age group is not recommended for an additional dose at this stage.
Those who were recommended to have a 2023 booster earlier this year, but have not yet had one, are still able to access a booster dose and are encouraged to do so.
ATAGI continues to review all available evidence on the duration of protection from COVID-19 vaccines, infection rates and risk of severe disease in making any future recommendations.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“The latest advice from our vaccination experts is that, if you’re aged 75 or older and it’s been at least six months since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose, it’s time to top up your protections with an additional dose.
“And if you’re aged 65 to 74, or 18 to 64 and are severely immunocompromised, you should also consider the additional dose in consultations with your healthcare provider.
“For other people who were advised to get a 2023 booster but haven’t had one, it’s not too late to come forward and get one.
“It is really important people remember COVID-19 is still with us, so I encourage people to keep following the vaccination advice of the experts on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.”
