Latest recommendation updates
ATAGI have provided recommendations on a winter booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to increase vaccine protection before winter for specified population groups who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and who have received their primary vaccination course and first booster dose.
These groups are:
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- Residents of aged care or disability care facilities
- People aged 16 years and older with severe immunocompromise (as defined in the ATAGI statement on the use of a 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older.
The additional winter booster dose can be given from 4 months or longer after the person has received their first booster dose, or from 4 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if infection occurred since the person’s first COVID-19 booster dose.
For other groups not listed above, there is insufficient evidence of the benefits of an additional booster dose to make recommendations at this time. ATAGI will continue to monitor emerging evidence and may recommend an additional dose for these groups in the future.
ATAGI encourages anyone aged 16 years and over to receive a booster dose as soon as they are eligible.
For more information on COVID-19 boosters.
Recent ATAGI considerations
On Wednesday 23 March 2022, ATAGI met to consider the latest developments relating to COVID-19 immunisation. As of 22 March 2022, over 55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia.
ATAGI encourages parents of children aged 5-11 to make an appointment for the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Ongoing ATAGI considerations
ATAGI is continuing to look at emerging evidence on the use of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments as part of its ongoing review of current recommendations.
ATAGI is also reviewing evidence on the use of Comirnaty (Pfizer) as a booster in adolescents aged 12-15 years, including data on serious illness, epidemiology and international use in this age group.
COVID-19 vaccine safety
The TGA Weekly Report provides a detailed breakdown of adverse events following immunisation.
Resources and recent statements
ATAGI recommends review of the following key resources:
- 25 March 2022: ATAGI recommendations on a winter booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine
- 2 March 2022: ATAGI updated advice on COVID-19 booster vaccinations
- 28 February 2022: ATAGI Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers
- 18 February 2022: ATAGI guidance on temporary medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines.
- 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 .
More information can be found on the Department of Health website, with resources for both providers and patients.