ATAGI have updated their COVID-19 winter booster dose recommendations to include additional risk groups. The groups now eligible for winter booster doses include:
- Any adult aged 65 years and older
- Aged care or disability care residents aged 16 years and older
- Individuals aged 16 years and older with severe immunocompromise
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 50 years and older.
- Individuals from 16 years of age who have complex, chronic or severe conditions [refer to page 3 of ATAGI statement below]
COVID-19 winter booster doses are not currently recommended for other groups including healthy people aged 16 to 64 years, healthy individuals with occupational risk factors (eg. healthcare workers) or pregnant women without additional risk factors.
mRNA vaccines are the preferred option for booster doses with Comirnaty (Pfizer) available to give from 16 years of age and Spikevax (Moderna) from 18 years. In people aged 18 years or older with a contraindication to mRNA vaccines Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) may be considered. Nuvaxovid (Novavax) can be used in individuals 18 years or older in circumstances where no other COVID-19 vaccine is suitable.
To read the updated recommendations in full, please click on the link below:
Expanded ATAGI recommendations on winter COVID-19 booster doses for people at increased risk of severe COVID-19