Sign in Subscribe
Vaccination

Australia Relaxes Covid-19 Restrictions, Introduces New Booster Shot for High-Risk Groups

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Australians in high-risk categories will now be eligible for a "winter jab" as the country eases Covid-19 restrictions. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) has recommended a second booster shot for adults 65 years and over, Indigenous Australians 50 years and over, aged care and disability residents. The booster jab will be available from 4 April, while international arrivals will no longer need to undergo pre-flight Covid-19 testing after 17 April.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) has recommended a second booster shot for adults 65 years and over, Indigenous Australians 50 years and over, aged care and disability residents.
  • The booster jab will be available from 4 April at pharmacies, general practices, state, commonwealth and Indigenous medical clinics.
  • International arrivals will no longer need to undergo pre-flight Covid-19 testing after 17 April.
  • Travelers will still need to be fully vaccinated to enter Australia and wear masks on flights.
  • The commonwealth will begin rolling out its winter flu program to a similar cohort as well as children under five, pregnant women and Indigenous Australians of all age demographics.
  • A fourth vaccine was previously restricted to severely immunocompromised people 16 years and over, between four and six months after receiving a first booster shot.
  • At-risk Australians are encouraged to receive both the winter dose and annual flu vaccine before winter hits.
  • Similar recommendations for a fourth vaccination have been made in South Korea, Israel, and the NHS in England.

Statistics:

  • 95% of eligible Australians have received their second vaccine as of 13 March.
  • 65.6% of eligible people had received a third vaccine dose as of 13 March.
  • In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, just 49.4% had received the third vaccine dose as of 13 March.
  • 23,702 new Covid cases were recorded in NSW on Friday.
  • 7 further deaths were recorded in NSW on Friday.
  • 1,182 people were being treated in hospital with the virus in NSW, including 43 people requiring intensive care.
  • 9,244 new Covid cases and 9 deaths were recorded in Victoria on Friday.
  • 253 people were hospitalised with the virus in Victoria, with 19 in intensive care.

Sources:

  • "Winter jab" recommendation (Greg Hunt, Australian Minister for Health)
  • Atagi recommendation (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation)
  • Pre-flight Covid testing announcement (Australian Government)
  • Pfizer and BioNTech emergency authorisation (US Food and Drug Administration)
  • NSW and Victoria Covid case numbers (NSW and Victorian health authorities)

Read more