There’s another change to the COVID-19 rules coming to Australia, with Aussies about to require a booster vaccine jab to be considered “up to date”.
It marks a notable shift away from using the term “fully vaccinated.” Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the news following a national cabinet meeting on Thursday, February 10th, after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) updated its guidance.
“All individuals aged 16 years and over are recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to maintain an ‘up-to-date’ status,” Morrison explained in a statement.
He added that the booster jab is recommended to be received from three months after a person has had their last primary dose. It’s also now recommended to be administered within six months of completing the primary schedule.”
“In its advice ATAGI acknowledges that this change in definition of up-to-date status for Covid-19 vaccines may impact the status of an individual’s Covid-19 immunisation certificate, and sufficient time should be provided to support implementation of changes,” Morrison continued.
There’s another new term for Australians to know: “overdue” will be used to refer to anyone who hasn’t received a booster within six months of their second dose.
“ATAGI has advised that a booster can be given safely and effectively at any time after six months to become ‘up-to-date’ in the event that the booster had not been received earlier,” Morrison also announced.
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As for children aged between five and 15, boosters still aren’t recommended, although ATAGI will continue to review this advice.
Morrison’s announcement comes after health officials in the U.S. made the same change in terminology to “up to date” last month. ATAGI had been considering the change for a while as it would remove confusion for those requiring extra doses like immunocompromised people.
“We think the best terminology is actually ‘up to date with vaccination status’, rather than ‘fully vaccinated’,” ATAGI chair Nigel Crawford told the federal parliament’s Covid-19 committee earlier this month.
“That’s a term that we’ve used in the childhood program. So essentially, as you have your children get vaccinated, we say you are ‘up to date with your immunisations’.”
The new changes will come into effect by the end of next month.
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