This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/07/fifth-covid-vaccine-for-australian-adults-to-roll-out-later-this-month

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Fifth Covid vaccine for Australian adults to roll out later this month Fifth Covid vaccine for Australian adults to roll out later this month
(7 months later)
Omicron-specific dose will be available for over-18s who have not had a booster or a confirmed coronavirus case in past six monthsOmicron-specific dose will be available for over-18s who have not had a booster or a confirmed coronavirus case in past six months
A fifth Covid vaccine dose will be made available to Australian adults from later this month.A fifth Covid vaccine dose will be made available to Australian adults from later this month.
The health minister, Mark Butler, has announced all adults who have not had a booster or a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the past six months will be eligible for another dose from 20 February, after the government accepted the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi).The health minister, Mark Butler, has announced all adults who have not had a booster or a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the past six months will be eligible for another dose from 20 February, after the government accepted the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi).
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupSign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupSign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
Butler said the government had 4m Omicron-specific booster doses available now and that another 10m were expected to arrive this month.Butler said the government had 4m Omicron-specific booster doses available now and that another 10m were expected to arrive this month.
“Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells and I will be writing to aged care providers to encourage them to bring local pharmacists and GPs into their facilities to administer the additional booster doses,” he said in a statement.“Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells and I will be writing to aged care providers to encourage them to bring local pharmacists and GPs into their facilities to administer the additional booster doses,” he said in a statement.
Sign up to Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Sign up to Morning Mail
Our Australian morning briefing email breaks down the key national and international stories of the day and why they matter Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
Atagi particularly recommended that everyone aged 65 years and over, as well as younger adults who have medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs have a 2023 booster dose, the minister said.Atagi particularly recommended that everyone aged 65 years and over, as well as younger adults who have medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs have a 2023 booster dose, the minister said.
An additional booster will not be provided for under 18s, except when they have health conditions that would put them at risk, given the low incidence of severe illness and high level of hybrid immunity among this group.An additional booster will not be provided for under 18s, except when they have health conditions that would put them at risk, given the low incidence of severe illness and high level of hybrid immunity among this group.
The number of reported cases has continued to fall from a peak of 16,000 a week in December, the highest rate recorded since August, to a rolling seven-day average of 2,600 cases.The number of reported cases has continued to fall from a peak of 16,000 a week in December, the highest rate recorded since August, to a rolling seven-day average of 2,600 cases.
There was an increase in deaths recorded in aged care centres last month caused by the leap in cases earlier in the summer.There was an increase in deaths recorded in aged care centres last month caused by the leap in cases earlier in the summer.
But there has seemingly been dwindling demand for boosters, with Australia discarding almost 20% of its national Covid vaccine supply in September.But there has seemingly been dwindling demand for boosters, with Australia discarding almost 20% of its national Covid vaccine supply in September.