The third (booster) dose may be given if clinically indicated with reference to official guidance regarding the use of a heterologous third dose (e.g. mRNA vaccine).

Topics: Australia

This means that the decision to receive Vaxzevria as a booster must be made in consultation with a medical professional. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Comirnaty (Pfizer) or Spikevax (Moderna) are preferred as the booster dose in Australia, irrespective of the primary COVID-19 vaccine used. This includes for people who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for their primary course.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said in a media release on Thursday that senior Australians in residential aged care are leading the national uptake of boosters, with 80.56 percent of those eligible for their third vaccine shot now having received it.

"The booster vaccination rate for aged care residents is well ahead of the national community figure of 55.43 percent," he said. ■