ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
On 1 September 2023, ATAGI updated its recommendations for additional COVID-19 vaccines doses. An additional 2023 dose is recommended for everyone aged 75 and over (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
Everyone aged 65 to 75 and people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise should consider an additional 2023 dose (if 6 months have passed since their last dose).
In February 2023, ATAGI recommended COVID-19 boosters for everyone aged over 65 and for people aged 18 to 64 with severe immunocompromise (if 6 months have passed since their last dose). People who were recommended to receive a booster in February and who have not yet had one should receive an additional dose as soon as possible.
ATAGI: Update on the COVID-19 vaccination program
Medical Journal of Australia: Local research examines COVID’s impact on cancer patients
This multicentre, national study examined the impact of COVID-19 disease on patients with cancer from March 2020 to April 2022.
Results indicated that patients with blood cancers tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR for a considerably longer time than those with solid organ tumours. Chemotherapy type or specific immunosuppressive therapies were not predictive of severe disease.
Reassuringly, the severity of COVID-19 disease in patients with cancer has decreased over time. This coincides with increasing rates of vaccination, hybrid immunity, robust testing mechanisms and the availability of and early use of antiviral therapies.
Even though newer strains of COVID-19 have the potential for evading protection induced by vaccination and antibody therapies, there is still good cross protection due to T-cell immunity. Therefore, a 3-dose course of primary vaccination as well as booster doses is recommended for severely immunocompromised individuals.
Medical Journal of Australia: Local research examines COVID’s impact on cancer patients
ATAGI advice on the preferential use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for primary vaccination of people aged 12 years or older
ATAGI has reviewed the latest evidence regarding the use of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. It is now recommended that individuals aged 12 years and over receive bivalent vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses in preference over using the original/ancestral strain vaccines. Whilst safety and immunogenicity data for bivalent vaccines in a primary series is limited, the safety profile when used as a booster dose is similar to when original/ancestral vaccines are used.
- Individuals aged 12-17 years are recommended to receive BA.4/5-containing bivalent vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses.
- Individuals aged 18 years and over can receive either BA.1-containing or BA.4/5-containing vaccines for primary vaccination and booster doses.
- Individuals aged 12 and over who have commenced their primary course with an original (ancestral) vaccine are recommended to complete the course with a bivalent vaccine.
- There are no bivalent vaccines currently available for use in children aged 6 months-11 years and therefore original/ancestral strain vaccines should continue to be used (noting that booster doses are not recommended for anyone under 5 years of age).
There are no changes to who is recommended to receive booster doses. Schedules and intervals between doses also remain unchanged.
Updated immunisation reference page: COVID-19
We have recently updated our COVID-19 immunisation reference page to streamline information. You can now find COVID-19 information and recommendations for adults and children on one page.
The updated page outlines the vaccines currently available, primary schedules and booster dose recommendations across age groups and for special risk groups. The page also includes answers to commonly asked questions.
For other COVID-19-related information, see:
MVEC: COVID-19 vaccines and allergy
All Spikevax (Moderna) COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months-5 years have now expired
As of May 3 2023, all stock of original/ancestral strain of Spikevax (Moderna) specific for children aged 6 months to 5 years has expired. Any remaining stock should not be administered and should be disposed of according to your state or territory’s requirements.
We have updated our guidelines to provide recommendations for children who have commenced their primary course with 1 dose of Spikevax and require further doses to complete their course.
- Immune competent children can complete their primary course with 1 dose of age-appropriate Comirnaty (Pfizer) only.
- Severely immunocompromised children who received 1 dose of Spikevax should receive a further 2 doses of Comirnaty 8 weeks apart to complete their primary course.
- Severely immunocompromised children who received 2 doses of Spikevax should receive 1 further dose of Comirnaty 8 weeks later to complete their primary course.
Please note, vaccination is only recommended in this age group for children with severe immunocompromise, disability or a complex medical condition that places them at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Find complete recommendations for children aged 6 months to 5 years on MVEC: COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents.
Updated immunisation reference page: Immunosuppression and vaccines
Immunosuppression refers to a person’s immune system being weakened, resulting in a decreased ability to fight infections. It can be caused by certain medical conditions or by taking specific medications.
Vaccination is particularly important in the setting of immunosuppression as individuals are at an increased risk of developing severe symptoms if exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases. Protection from vaccines can be suboptimal in this patient group and therefore additional doses of vaccines may be recommended. Conversely, some vaccines (live-attenuated vaccines) may be contraindicated due to the potential risk of vaccine-related disease.
We have recently updated our immunosuppression and vaccines reference page to incorporate information specific to COVID-19 immunisation which was previously detailed on a separate page. Information on vaccination timing, recommended vaccines, contraindicated vaccines, and considerations for immunosuppressed breastfeeding mothers and household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals is also included.
Updated MVEC: Immunosuppression and vaccines
TGA: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine SPIKEVAX receives approval for full registration
On 21 April 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Moderna Australia’s application to transition its original/ancestral strain COVID-19 vaccines from provisional to full registration. This applies only to the formulations used for people aged ≥ 12 years.
It is the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full registration within Australia.
Moderna’s original/ancestral strain COVID-19 vaccine formulation given to children aged 6 months to ≤ 5 years, and the Moderna SPIKEVAX bivalent vaccines remain provisionally registered only.
TGA: Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine SPIKEVAX receives approval for full registration
For more information about the provision registration of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia, see our reference page.
WHO SAGE: Updated Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines
The World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has updated its Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines to include vaccination information relating to:
- specific recommendations for primary series vaccination and booster doses according to priority groups
- need and frequency of further booster doses following an initial booster
- variant-specific vaccines
- vaccination during pregnancy
- post COVID-19 conditions.
These updated guidelines align with ATAGI’s current recommendation for prioritising vaccination of those with a high risk of severe disease. This includes the current guidance for not recommending booster doses in healthy children.
To read this guidance in full follow the link below:
WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines
NCIRS: Recording of COVID-19 and influenza vaccination update 2023
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has recently uploaded recordings of presentations from its annual influenza webinar, held on 16 March 2023.
This year, the webinar included presentations on:
- Learnings from the recent northern hemisphere winter experience managing COVID-19 and influenza
- The latest Australian COVID-19 vaccination and booster recommendations
- 2023 Australian influenza vaccination recommendations across the lifespan, including important changes for 0-5 year olds
New England Journal of Medicine Interview: What to expect from Covid-19 vaccines
In this New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) audio interview, virologist and immunologist Dr Barney Graham discusses structural biology and the future of COVID-19, RSV and other vaccines.
Dr Graham was at the forefront of vaccine development for COVID-19 and has a background studying RSV. In this interview, he reflects on his work with the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) and emphasises the importance of education for improving vaccine uptake.
NEJM Audio interview with Barney Graham