To receive the best protection against serious illness or death from COVID-19, you should get all recommended doses for your age or individual health needs. Boosters are important to maintain protection.
Booster doses are free for everyone.
Information about booster doses is also available in your language.
Booster doses
All adults can get a booster if it’s been 6 months or longer since their last COVID-19 booster or confirmed infection (whichever is most recent). Boosters give extra protection against severe illness from COVID.
The Australian Government has accepted a recommendation about COVID-19 vaccines. All adults aged 75 years and older should receive an extra 2023 COVID-19 vaccine dose if six months have passed since their last dose.
This particularly includes people at higher risk of severe illness, like:
- adults aged 65-74 years
- everyone 18 years and over with medical comorbidities, disability or complex health needs.
Children and young people aged 5 to 17 years can consider getting a booster dose if:
- they have a health condition that put them at risk of severe illness, and
- if it’s been 6 months since their last dose or COVID-19 infection.
Your doctor can help you decide if your child should receive a booster.
Booster doses are not recommended at this time for children and adolescents under 18 years of age who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19.
All vaccines are approved for use in Australia and continue to give strong protection against serious illness from COVID-19. Omicron-specific bivalent vaccines are preferred for boosters.
The date you had your last COVID-19 vaccine is on your COVID-19 digital certificate.
How to book booster doses
To book a booster dose, use the healthdirect Service Finder.
Booster program for residential aged care
A booster program is taking place in residential aged care facilities. Read more about the COVID-19 booster dose vaccination program in residential aged care.
Booster program for people with disability
A booster program is being rolled out for people with disability who live in shared residential accommodation. Learn more about the COVID-19 booster dose program for people with disability living in shared residential accommodation.
Safety of COVID-19 booster doses
Common, mild side effects following a booster dose look similar to the side effects following the first 2 doses.
See information about COVID-19 vaccine safety and side effects.