PREPARE for an upgrade in your COVID-19 protection. Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Monday that the Australian government has approved the use of new COVID-19 vaccines specifically designed to combat the latest Omicron sub-variants. The new vaccines, known as monovalent vaccines, including the XBB.1.5 variant, offer improved protection against the COVID-19 strains currently in our community.
The Pfizer version of the new vaccine will be available for people over five years old, while the Moderna variant will be for those over 12. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised that these new vaccines are preferred over other vaccines, although all existing vaccines still provide strong protection against severe disease.
Despite the new vaccines, ATAGI emphasises the importance of the unvaccinated, especially those over 75 and those with existing health conditions, to get their shots immediately due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Booster shot uptake remains low, particularly among the elderly, with only 27% of people aged 75 or over having received their booster in the last six months. The federal government aims to address this by ensuring the new vaccines are delivered by December 11.
