From today, eligible Australians aged 16 and 17 years old will be able to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine, following recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
There are approximately 580,000 16 and 17 year olds in Australia, with 370,000 immediately eligible to receive their booster dose.
The booster dose for 16-17 year olds will be one dose of the adult Pfizer vaccine three months after their primary course.
ATAGI’s advice for 16-17 year olds follows Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for this age group on 28 January 2022.
Aussie kids who were 15 years old when they had their second COVID-19 vaccine, and are now 16 years old, will also be eligible for a booster dose. It is also highly recommended that immunocompromised 16-17 year olds should receive a booster dose as soon as they’re eligible.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said this was good news for many year 11 and year 12 students, who are heading back to school this week and entering an important phase in their education, as well as a welcome relief for their parents and families.
“Teenagers have made many sacrifices throughout this pandemic; their social and educational lives have suffered through lockdowns and restrictions, along with the impact on their mental health and wellbeing,” Minister Hunt said.
“It is critical for their health and wellbeing to be able to engage with their friends and get back into school activities.”
More than 8.1 million Australians have already received a booster dose over recent weeks.
Australians who are currently eligible for their first, second or booster shot should make an appointment as soon as possible. We also encourage parents of children aged 5+ who haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccine to book one today.
The Australian Government has procured more than 151 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for delivery over the coming year and is well placed to continue to achieve world leading vaccination rates against COVID-19.
Original content from the Hon. Greg Hunt MP media page. Note: Content has been edited for style and length.
Nina Alvarez is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel. Her interests include writing, particularly about the healthcare sector and the many ways it can improve to further benefit people from all walks of life.
