Booster vaccines, eligibility and travel bookings

[drron]

I was walking past Chemist warehouse today so got out my Vaccination card.lo and behold my 5 months is up today. They had finished for today so back tomorrow for my Moderna booster.

 

[moa999]

Five hours after Moderna booster similar sore arm symptoms to Pfizer 2. My worst symptoms (minor chills were 24hrs after Pfizer 2)..
And more than 24hrs later still a sore arm but no other symptoms.

Hilariously got a text this evening from NSW Health staying that it was five months since my 2nd shot.

Service NSW app won't take an updated Medicare certificate, presumably because it only cares about two doses (at least for now)

 

[Matt_01]

Can you get a booster in any state? I will be in SYD around 2 weeks before the 5 months waiting period is up and from what I have read NSW may be a bit more relaxed around the rules than the DPRSA.

 

[drron]

Can you get a booster in any state? I will be in SYD around 2 weeks before the 5 months waiting period is up and from what I have read NSW may be a bit more relaxed around the rules than the DPRSA.

No problems. My first in QLD. Second and booster will be Tassie.

 

[OATEK]

My 5 months up this week, and booked to get my booster early next week. It will be Pfizer, and I have always been grateful to take what is given considering the doubts expressed in early 2020 about whether we could even have a vaccine or that it could be years away, and yet came less than 12 months from the outbreak.

 

[chelzmalee]

Was already booked to get boosted on 11th Jan with GP - they couldn't move it forward due to no vax availability before 19 Jan, but suggested to make appt at local NSW Health vax clinic. Booked online (thru NSW Health) for Thursday afternoon - easy as.

 

[moa999]

Can you get a booster in any state? I will be in SYD around 2 weeks before the 5 months waiting period is up and from what I have read NSW may be a bit more relaxed around the rules than the DPRSA.

Had a person come into chemist while I was getting my booster yesterday asking for booster at 4 months as travelling in 2 weeks.
Was told that chemists didn't have authority to do that, only doctors.

 

[pen48]

Have had my AZ booster (third AZ), ready for departure 30th Dec to UK. Have had no adverse reactions or arm soreness with all three.

There have been reports of anaphylaxis with mRNA vaccines and as I wear a bracelet for anaphylaxis and have had to be resuscitated on one occasion, I am not prepared to take the risk, however small.

According to Lancet, 2 x AZ plus a protein-based vaccine is a good combination, but as Novavax and Covax-19 are both unavailable at this time I have chosen AZ as a booster.

 

[ethernet]

'Only in Australia' I mutter as ATAGI go it alone, and not follow global consensus. On the telly, some authority said the booster cost is peanuts relative to treatment or isolation costs. I agree. Hand on heart - I don't think they have evidence - or knowledge of what is best, as the drug companies only release positive stuff that enhances their bottom line. Canada and Israel seem to have made better 'calls'. UK is going early, going hard. We will see when ATAGI retreat, and go to 3 months. Early indications is that a lot of Aussies are not interested in boosters anyway.

 

[Lynda2475]

Early indications is that a lot of Aussies are not interested in boosters anyway

That statement is at odds with the evidence at hand.

NsW reporting huge demand, state hubs alone dispensed 10k boosters yesterday.

 

[drron]

Even in Tassie there is a big demand for boosters. The vaccination numbers for Tasmania this week are pretty high when you consider it has ~ 2% of the Aussie population but often over 3% of vaccination doses given per day.
Queensland though has been having the greatest number of doses given per day most of this week with 50 - 60000 doses per day.

 

[Lynda2475]

Queensland though has been having the greatest number of doses given per day most of this week with 50 - 60000 doses per day.

Due to the border opening, it is great there is finally momentum given how far they were lagging but most of these are first and second doses.

Whereas in NSW majority of doses given for past 2 weeks have been boosters. I suspect same for other jurisdictions who were already at greater than 90% double jabbed.

NSW health reports daily boosters given by state hubs separately from primary and secondary doses. The fed reports should be doing the same for commonwealth channels (although havent seen this consistently reported by state/territory).

 

[Lynda2475]

ABC reports:

Federal health officials have decided against accelerating the national booster rollout.

They have provided reassurances that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine provides good protection against the Omicron variant.

People can now get their booster dose five months after their second jab, after the eligibility criteria was changed last weekend.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged more changes to come, but ATAGI, has decided to stick with the five-month eligibility rule for now.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said while the Omicron variant does appear more likely to break through the protection provided by two doses compared to the Delta variant, it remains unlikely to bring on severe illness.

"And I think that's one of the reasons why we are seeing increases in cases, but not so much of an increase in hospitalisations or other forms of severe disease," he said.

 

[jakeseven7]

ATAGI are advising doctors to allow anyone to get their booster ‘a couple of weeks’ earlier than the 5 month mark to allow for holiday travel and movement.

Just an FYI for members who want to get it a few weeks early - just say you have travel or something over your 5 month appt mark.

 

[Pushka]

ABC reports:

Federal health officials have decided against accelerating the national booster rollout.

They have provided reassurances that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine provides good protection against the Omicron variant.

People can now get their booster dose five months after their second jab, after the eligibility criteria was changed last weekend.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged more changes to come, but ATAGI, has decided to stick with the five-month eligibility rule for now.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said while the Omicron variant does appear more likely to break through the protection provided by two doses compared to the Delta variant, it remains unlikely to bring on severe illness.

SA is thinking it will reduce the gap here to four months.

 

[Milboo]

I just snuck in my booster (Moderna after 2 Pz originally) at 4.5 months. Booked at a GP clinic - admittedly ticked the box that said 5 months had passed in booking. No questions asked in person.

I am travelling to QLD next week and preferred to have had this before.

 

[MooTime]

ATAGI are advising doctors to allow anyone to get their booster ‘a couple of weeks’ earlier than the 5 month mark to allow for holiday travel.

Just an FYI for members who want to get it a few weeks early - just say you have travel or something over your 5 month appt mark.

While waiting for my 3rd Jab this week, I overheard (thin walls) the dr tell an old patient, sorry your 1 day short of 5 months, I can't give you the vaccine, the gov or whatever he said I forgot, won't allow it. I thought OMG, really, this is an old guy, 1 day, big bloody deal.
I think the holiday excuse reason like your saying it top idea.

@Milboo
Even when I tried couple months ago to get very early 3rd jab, the pharmacist (x3) looked at my history & said sorry no jabs this early. Your GP overlooked it, good on him/her.

My luck I've run into the sticklers for the rules.

 

[jrfsp]

SA is thinking it will reduce the gap here to four months.

Reported that NSW is too.

I dont disagree with the idea but calls ATAGIs relevance into question ?

 

[MooTime]

ATAGI useless imo, they just watch what the rest of World do, pick n choose & give the all clear here to follow.

No way IMO do they do any kind of thorough testing themselves. They just see what happens elsewhere..... Yep we like look of that.

 

[jakeseven7]

ATAGI useless imo, they just watch what the rest of World do, pick n choose & give the all clear here to follow.

No way IMO do they do any kind of thorough testing themselves. They just see what happens elsewhere..... Yep we like look of that.

So this is the big rumour / conspiracy theory:

ATAGI know they need to drop the interval. It’s getting clearer by the day. But the country has zero chance to deliver a surge of vaccines over the next few weeks because…. We are all on holiday. Literally. It’s the bodies we need to deliver the jabs that is the problem this time not the juice.

I can almost guarantee in the new year they will drop the interval.

That’s my tin foil prediction based on medico goss and a few gin and tonics