Latest recommendation updates:
- ATAGI provided advice on defining ‘up-to-date’ status.
Recent ATAGI considerations
On Wednesday 9 February 2022, ATAGI met to consider the latest developments relating to COVID-19 immunisation. As of 8 February 2022, over 51 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia. ATAGI encourages anyone aged 16 years and over to receive a booster dose as soon as they are eligible.
ATAGI Advice on defining ‘up-to-date’ status
ATAGI recognises the importance of providing guidance on a person’s ‘up-to-date’ vaccination status from the clinical benefit perspective and also serving as a basis for policies for the public health management of the COVID-19 pandemic in a domestic context.
ATAGI has issued new advice defining up-to-date vaccination status as defined by the number and timing of appropriate COVID-19 vaccine doses recommended for and received by an individual, according to their age and other factors.
ATAGI notes that the concept of being up-to-date with vaccination may be different to what has been required to be ‘fully vaccinated’, which is a term that has been used in the context of public health orders or mandates in various settings, including border control, quarantine, workplaces (e.g. aged care, health care), and in other select settings. These applications may involve legal and policy implications and are not within the remit of ATAGI but should be considered in the implementation of this advice by governments and/or private entities as appropriate.
The ATAGI COVID-19 up-to-date vaccination status recommendations will be utilised by the Australian Immunisation Register to assist in determining whether an individual has had the recommended vaccine doses.
Full details of ATAGI’s advice is available here.
Upcoming ATAGI considerations
ATAGI is continuing to monitor evidence on the effectiveness of vaccine boosters and national vaccination coverage rates.
COVID-19 vaccine safety
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Weekly Report provides a detailed breakdown of adverse events following immunisation.
Duration of observation after COVID-19 vaccination
ATAGI reaffirms its recommendation that individuals who receive a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of the vaccine brand and the dose number, should be observed for at least 15 minutes following vaccine administration at the clinic site, in accordance with the current recommendations in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Some people with specific allergies as specified in the Precautions section of the current ATAGI Clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers will require observation for at least 30 minutes following administration of a COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Resources and recent statements
ATAGI recommends review of the following key resources:
- 3 February 2022: ATAGI Statement on booster doses for adolescents 16 to 17 years
- 24 January 2022: ATAGI statement on the use of Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.
- 19 January 2022: Updated ATAGI recommendations on the use of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised .
- Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 vaccination providers (new look web version of the clinical guidance).
- 24 December 2021: ATAGI Statement on the Omicron variant of concern and the timing of COVID-19 booster vaccination.
- 10 December 2021: ATAGI recommendations on Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 5 to 11 years.
