The arrival and growth of the Omicron variant in Australia has brought with it renewed encouragement for eligible adults to book in for a third dose - or booster shot.
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As of Sunday 12 December, 2021, the booster program in Australia has been fast-tracked for anyone who has had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine more than five months ago. Previously, the waiting time was six months.
It's something that has been flagged as an option since the beginning of November, as Australia began to approach its overall 80 per cent double-dose target.
But what is the booster shot, why do you need it, and when can you get it?
According to Secretary of the Australian Department of Health, Professor Brendan Murphy, by Thursday this week, 30,000 boosters had been administered.
That combines with the 40 million either first or second doses that have been shot into arms around the nation.
Here's everything you need to know about the booster shot rollout in Australia.
When should you get the booster shot?
As of Sunday 12 December, 2021, adults in Australia will be eligible for a booster shot five months after their second dose of any COVID-19 vaccination.
Why do you have to wait five months? There's a couple of answers to that.
Early indications from nations that started their vaccination programs earlier than ours, indicate that after six months, the full protection of the vaccine begins to wane.
So, the TGA is hoping to bring the population back to full protection before the six month mark.
The booster shot is designed to strengthen that waning protection.
There is no need to seek a booster before five months, because, basically, you cannot improve on full protection and doing so would be a waste of the booster.
"There's very little evidence of effectiveness in a booster in a shorter interval," said Dr Lucas De Toca, federal health COVID-19 Primary Care Response First Assistant Secretary.
"Don't rush to get it if your second dose was less than [five] months ago, even if you're going overseas."
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Which vaccine should you get as a booster?
Regardless of whether you had the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Novavax for your full course, at the time of publication, the Therepeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has only approved one vaccine for the booster: Pfizer.
ATAGI has now also given provisional approval to the Moderna vaccine as a booster shot.
But for now, if you're booked in for your booster, you'll be getting the Pfizer.
In some rarer cases, the AstraZeneca may be given as a booster. But it is not preferred.
Are you still fully vaccinated if you don't get the booster?
Yes. The full course is currently still the two doses of any TGA approved vaccine.
"Fully vaccinated status remains as a two-dose or full course of vaccine, but with the booster there's more and more evidence that shows that that third dose after [five] months significantly triggers a stronger immune response and for longer, so it's currently recommended," Dr De Toca said.
Will you only need one booster shot?
For now, the answer is yes. But as Dr De Toca explains, that too might be subject to change.
"We still don't know, we'll have to see how things evolve in this and other countries, whether more than one booster will be neccesary," he said.
"It might be that it protects us for a few years as opposed to a few months.
"That's still unknown but what we know is really good protection for at least six months with primary course, and then the opportunity to boost it up with the third shot."
Immunocomprised people may have already received a third dose as part of their primary vaccination course. In this case, further medical advice should be sought on whether a booster shot will be need.
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Is the booster shot compulsory?
No. In Australia, the vaccine program is not mandatory although there are certain occupations and venues that have issued mandates for double-dose vaccination.
At this time, the third dose booster is not considered part of the full course of vaccinations. It's an extra, and so it is definitely not compulsory at this time.
How do you know when you're due for your booster?
Simple answer: Check your vaccination history.
You can do this online or over the phone by calling the Australian Vaccination Registry, or you can simply check the certificate you carry around in your pocket.
"If you've downloaded the digital certificate that many of us carry around on our phone, the digital certificate has the date of your second dose on it," Dr De Toca said.
"So [five] months from that dose is when you're eligible for your booster."
How do you book a booster shot?
From November 1, bookings can be made at state health clinics, GPs, and pharmacies. You can find your nearest clinic via the healthdirect.gov.au site.