Updated ATAGI advice on COVID-19 boosters
09 Feb 2023
A message from ATAGI:
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated its recommendations on the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 2023. ATAGI recommends a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for adults in the following groups, if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received:
- All adults aged 65 years and over; and
- Adults aged 18-64 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
ATAGI advises the following groups should consider a 2023 booster dose if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received, based on an individual risk benefit assessment with their immunisation provider.
- All adults aged 18-64 years without risk factors for severe COVID-19; and
- Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
ATAGI advises that a booster dose is not recommended at this time for children and adolescents aged under the age of 18 who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19
All currently available COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated to provide benefit as a booster dose, however bivalent mRNA booster vaccines are preferred over other vaccines. For ages in which a bivalent vaccine is not approved, use a vaccine approved for that age group.
Administration of a 2023 COVID-19 booster dose should aim to occur before June 2023 and at a time of 6 months or greater following the most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection.
The Australian Government has accepted this advice and will include the 2023 booster dose for recommended people in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program from 20 February 2023.
In 2023, COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be principally administered by primary care providers such as general practitioners and pharmacists. All primary care vaccination sites may commence administering the 2023 booster doses to the eligible patients if they have available stock and appointments. To support the roll-out of the 2023 booster dose, all primary care sites have had their Pfizer bivalent (grey) allocations increased from 240 to 600 doses per fortnight. Please continue to consider your demand when placing orders. You can order less than your maximum allocation.
Streamlined payment arrangements for primary care came into effect from 1 February 2023. Payments for the 2023 booster dose will remain the same as for the administration of other doses.
