Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination
To be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, you must have had all the doses recommended for your age and health needs.
Read ATAGI's statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination
People aged 16 years and older
Everyone aged 16 years and older is recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to maintain an ‘up to date’ status.
This booster dose is now recommended from 3 months after the last primary dose. This is called the ‘due date’.
Initial protection is reduced, and increased waning is evident following primary COVID-19 vaccination (usually 2 doses) against the Omicron variant. This warrants the inclusion of booster doses in a person’s up to date status.
Children and teens aged 5 to 15
Children and adolescents aged 5-15 years are up to date after completion of a primary course of vaccination. A booster dose is not currently recommended for this age group.
A Pfizer booster dose if recommended for adolescents aged 12-15 who:
- severely immunocompromised, or
- have a disability with significant or complex health needs, or
- have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19
Severely immunocompromised people
Severely immunocompromised people aged 5 years and over require a third primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine from 2 months (and no later than 6 months) after dose 2 to remain up to date.
People aged 16 years and over are recommended a booster (fourth) dose, 3 months after dose 3 of their primary vaccination course.
However, for the purpose of being up to date in the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), which does not contain any information on medical conditions, only a total of 3 doses will be counted as being up to date.
People who have had COVID-19
To be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, you must have completed all the doses recommended for your age and health status.
If you had a confirmed COVID-19 infection you should defer vaccination for 3 months. You are considered ‘up-to-date’ during this period. The next scheduled dose of COVID-19 vaccine should be given as soon as possible after 3 months following a COVID-19 infection.
For people who have been infected and are required to prove they are ‘up-to-date’, a temporary medical exemption may be applicable. People should speak with their healthcare provider about what is best for them.
Refer to ATAGI clinical guidance on people with a past SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Up to date and overdue status
You will no longer be considered ‘up to date’ and will instead be considered ‘overdue’ if you have not had a booster dose in the recommended timeframe for your age or health status.
Read ATAGI's statement on defining 'up-to-date' status for COVID-19 vaccination
Being ‘overdue’ means you will not be able to generate a current COVID-19 vaccine digital certificate.
Mixing vaccines
Vaccine schedules using mixed or the same brand of COVID-19 vaccine are acceptable for being considered up to date. The TGA is currently considering which vaccines, not already approved for use in Australia as a booster, will be recognised as valid by the Australia Immunisation Register, as a booster dose (e.g. if received overseas).
Book your COVID-19 appointment
There are appointments available now and everyone who is eligible, but not yet had their first or second booster is encouraged to do so.
Parents of children aged 5 years and older who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine are also encouraged to book one today.
Parents of children aged 6 months to under 5 years at increased risk of COVID-19 are also encouraged to book their child’s COVID-19 vaccination.