Booster vaccines available from next week
COVID UPDATE
Douglas residents will be able to get another COVID-19 booster vaccine from next Monday, February 20.
The all-clear has been given by the Commonwealth government after advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) – that all adults who have not had a COVID-19 booster or a confirmed case in the past six months can now get another booster to give them additional protection against severe illness from COVID.
ATAGI has particularly recommended that everyone at risk of severe illness – those aged 65 years and over as well as younger adults who have medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs – have a 2023 booster dose.
ATAGI have advised that otherwise healthy children and teenagers do not need a booster at this time.
An additional booster will not be provided for under 18s, except where children aged five to 17 have health conditions that would put them at risk of severe illness.
The recommendation for a booster is for people whose most recent COVID-19 vaccine or infection was six months or more ago – irrespective of how many prior doses a person has received.
For the latest booster dose, “all available COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide a benefit,” according to federal health minister Mark Butler.
“However, Omicron-specific mRNA booster vaccines are preferred over other vaccines,” he said.
Aged care providers will be encouraged to regularly bring local general practitioners and pharmacists into their facilities to administer the booster doses, as required by the vaccination and infection history of individual residents.
As has been the case with the most recent vaccine boosters, the latest doses will be administered at Douglas pharmacies and doctors’ rooms. You can find the nearest point here: Vaccine Clinic Finder.
In the meantime, locally there have been three COVID patients at Mossman Multipurpose Health Service during the past two weeks.
Thank you!
Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.
Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.
* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.