8 July 2022
As the inaugural Chief Medical Officer at Jewish Care Victoria, Dr Simon Grof asks our community to stay up to date with COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations.
The expert Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its recommendations for a winter booster dose of COVID-19. The number of people ill from respiratory virus infections, including from COVID-19, has increased over the past few months, placing an increased strain on the Australian healthcare system, particularly hospitals.
The updated recommendations are:
- 50 - 64 yo adults are now recommended to receive a winter booster dose;
- 30 - 49 yo adults can receive a winter booster dose, however the benefit for people in this age group is less certain; and
- The interval recommended between a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection or the first booster dose and a winter booster dose is now 3 months
ATAGI emphasises that people previously eligible for a winter booster dose remain at higher risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19 and should receive a winter booster dose as soon as possible. They include:
- All adults aged 65 years or older;
- Residents of aged care or disability care facilities;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older;
- People who are severely immunocompromised (this will be their fifth dose);
- People aged 16 years or older with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness; and
- People aged 16 years or older with disability, significant or complex health needs, or multiple comorbidities which increase the risk of a poor outcome.
Dr Grof urges all in the community to stay up to date with the recommended COVID-19 and Influenza vaccinations to protect themselves, family members and the broader community from the risks of serious illness, hospitalisation or death.
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