Booster vaccines, eligibility and travel bookings

[lovetravellingoz]

Booster interval about to be dropped to 4 months

4 months from Jan 4, and 3 months from Jan 31

 

[OATEK]

My daughter just took the opportunity to rebook her booster, originally at 31/1/22 (5mths) to 2/1/22. So the systems seem to have been updated to allow.

 

[Port Power]

My daughter just took the opportunity to rebook her booster, originally at 31/1/22 (5mths) to 2/1/22. So the systems seem to have been updated to allow.

I actually had my booster at pharmac_ 777 as a walk in, a few days before my booked appointment. They still entered the booking into the system so that details would flow through to Medicare. So plenty of stock here and an appointment not necessarily needed except for a GP.

 

[justinbrett]

Does anyone know of the 4 month interval is absolute, or is +/- a few days OK? I know for 5 months the government said give or take a week is fine.

My 4 months is up the day I fly to LA, and I’ve got a booking two days before this at Terry White. Logic says this should be fine especially with international travel plans but the wording doesn’t seem to allow for this.

 

[VPS]

When do you leave - it's being cut to three months at the end of January

Millions more Australians to be eligible for Covid booster as interval cut to four months

Minimum interval cut from five to four months on 4 January, and reduced to three months on 31 January

www.theguardian.com

 

[justinbrett]

When do you leave - it's being cut to three months at the end of January

Millions more Australians to be eligible for Covid booster as interval cut to four months

Minimum interval cut from five to four months on 4 January, and reduced to three months on 31 January

www.theguardian.com

Fly out 6th Jan, booked on 4th Jan. 6th is 4 months since my second jab.

 

[VPS]

Fly out 6th Jan, booked on 4th Jan. 6th is 4 months since my second jab.

I'd make appointments at a couple of chemists just in case you get an officious person

 

[ethernet]

With respect to a previous post, I was correct and ATAGI smelt the roses/coffee, and dropped the interval to 3 / 4 months but made no specific rationale available, such as international regional weighting. Again, they seem to want one size fits all, rather than say things like 60+ whatever, this age group, another. Notably the new timeline will be helpful should there be a May election call. Whatever their scope or remit, state health offices seem to buckle and make stuff up on the fly. Sure prudence is good, but not if YOU are the one made to isolate. People are selfish, yet the numbers from Israel and Denmark, support aggressive booster. Poor Heath ministers is then on the hook for round 4 and present day (costs) saturation of PCR covid testing. USA did not blink, and RAT tests is added to the pile as well. Crickets are chirping in .au, but SA is about to flipflop.

Yes, demand is bonkers, because long waits for tests fuels the imaginations of the little people. With flights being cancelled and all, and asymptomatic breakthrough higher, the cost benefit analysis is in favor of boosters, even if ATAGI won't tell us AZ'ers where we stand. Nursing home breakouts, I suspect will confirm the err and go early decision.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'd make appointments at a couple of chemists just in case you get an officious person

If you are talking about a few days creep ahead of the current interval (can’t see OG post) then a doctor is able to administer ahead of current timeline under their own judgement.

 

[Pushka]

If you are talking about a few days creep ahead of the current interval (can’t see OG post) then a doctor is able to administer ahead of current timeline under their own judgement.

At the Wayville hub I was told it's a 7 day allowance.

 

[Quickstatus]

was correct and ATAGI smelt the roses/coffee, and dropped the interval to 3 / 4 months but made no specific rationale availabl

Basically ATAGI had a very difficult job. The problem is people are expecting them to make decisions that supports their own biases - that’s not ATAGI’s job.

Most people do not think in a technical immunological way. Most (apart from the anti vaxxers) are now basically of the mindset that more is better and sooner is better without any evidence but yet hammering ATAGI for not agreeing with that position.

I think ATAGi should stick to their guns and only report/recommend based on the actual evidence. What jurisdictions elsewhere does or does not do is not evidence.

 

[jakeseven7]

Basically ATAGI had a very difficult job. The problem is people are expecting them to make decisions that supports their own biases - that’s not ATAGI’s job.

Most people do not think in a technical immunological way. Most (apart from the anti accents) are now basically of the mindset that more is better and sooner is better without any evidence but yet hammering ATAGI for not agreeing with that position.

I think ATAGi should stick to their guns and only report/recommend based on the actual evidence. What jurisdictions elsewhere does or does not do is not evidence.

RWE is regularly included in clinical decision making, trials and major decisions in public health. But it was very clear ATAGI were going to drop the interval - they have a role and remit that is not optimally defined for the decisions they are making here. It’s probably not actually their fault it’s quite possibly structural and because of that it’s subject to political influence - surprise!

 

[VPS]

At the Wayville hub I was told it's a 7 day allowance.

Have you been to the Wayville hub - it's showing huge queues at the moment. I have an appointment next week and don't want to have to stand in the heat for an hour if I've got an appointment

 

[ethernet]

OK, In breaking news ACT is not doing PCR traveler testing - testing facilities overloaded to breaking point. ACT authorities block access to 'travel tests' as Canberra's COVID-19 clinics are overwhelmed I know ACT people will travel across the border to be tested(possibly spread it, not much as 99%+ vaccinated). Devastating to the airport, airlines and all downwind businesses while amplifying positive community infections.

Scomo thought himself smart hosing down QLD - I confidently predict the drama will spread to other states, and remain in school holiday peaks - and people whose holiday plans are trashed make angry voters. Clearly PCR test saturation cannot go on another 5 months. And Omicron will spread to the last of the vaccination snobs/fence-sitters. Novavax nowhere in sight, a calamity is unfolding.

Winston Churchill had to use the science of Operations Research to optimise real outcomes. For Covid, Australia is not onboard with this. Opaque decisions, evidence selectivity, and avoidance of the truth, lack of common sense, visible unaccountably, tinpot states - it is an ugly look. Hopefully, I can get my booster on the 4th, and Scomo announce those with boosters do NOT need travel tests, and no, the Cwth is not subsidising/ paying jack either.

 

[Quickstatus]

because of that it’s subject to political influence - surprise!

Surprise!!. Politicians say they are acting on medical advice but what they don’t say is that they also look for advice that fits with their narrative and also try to influence the narrative.

 

[Pushka]

Have you been to the Wayville hub - it's showing huge queues at the moment. I have an appointment next week and don't want to have to stand in the heat for an hour if I've got an appointment

Yes in early December. It was deserted. Agree that there has to be a better way for appointments. Maybe go to glass doors at entrance and check for signs.

 

[Mattg]

OK, In breaking news ACT is not doing PCR traveler testing - testing facilities overloaded to breaking point. ACT authorities block access to 'travel tests' as Canberra's COVID-19 clinics are overwhelmed

Just to make it clear to anyone who didn't read the article - they are turning away people who want travel tests for four hours (11am-3pm) at two testing sites. It's not a blanket ban on PCR traveler tests throughout the ACT.

 

[justinbrett]

Back to the Booster topic…

I'd make appointments at a couple of chemists just in case you get an officious person

I’m now also booked in on 2nd Jan at a different place. That one might be pushing my luck (4 days early and before the 4th Jan rule change) but hoping showing my international itinerary will grease the wheels.

 

[serfty]

My doctor was already prepared to give a booster after 5 months back before the timeframe was reduced.

This was because of my planned travel to the US towards the end of next month, the booster was booked for 2½ weeks before my travel.

Now ATAGI has reduced the recommended minimum interval by a month it is steady as she goes.

 

[drron]

RWE is regularly included in clinical decision making, trials and major decisions in public health. But it was very clear ATAGI were going to drop the interval - they have a role and remit that is not optimally defined for the decisions they are making here. It’s probably not actually their fault it’s quite possibly structural and because of that it’s subject to political influence - surprise!

But is RWE the basis of recent decisions. the more RWE coming out about Omicron the less recent decisions look like they are based on it and the more it looks like they are based on the fear pandemonium.. I believe the NSW Health Minister that basically we will end up all getting vCovid and likely Omicron. So just why are we rushing to avoid it?

Stopping PCR testing for the worried well and travel is a good decision. the worried well can do their own RAT testing as well as the Premiers who are still scared do it on arriving tourists at their own expense.

Our hospitals can do the same. I believe it is unofficial but we are being advised to do so and only isolate if positive.

And as one wit on twitter remarked yesterday -it is very likely that herd immunity will be with us a long time before herd intelligence.