The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia has begun

[Lynda2475]

only advising a second booster for the immuno compromised and those with multiple co-morbidities

This is currently also the case here. I know an older family friend who is immunocompromised, therefore she had a 3rd dose (2 AZ + 1 Pfizer) just to be considered fully vaccinated, and has been told by doctor she should get her booster 4 months post dose 3 which will be February.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Paul Kelly yesterday talked about another potential Covid + Flu wave come winter. We wont have the benefit of hindsight of watching the northern hemisphere go first with our booster program running at the same time as theirs and realistically when winter comes around the booster efficacy will be fading.

If there is another wave come winter the economic recovery wont be happening in 2022.

Not sure even what recovery is happening now. In non-exempt industries, lots of shops closed/limited hours anecdotally. Some restaurants reverting to takeaway only - some commenting no one is eating out.

 

[Lynda2475]

According to the ABC both Qld and Vic premiers planning to raise mandating booster shots.

From a practical POV I wonder how they will expire 2 dose certificates already issued? Will new certificates be issued with expiry dates, will apps be modified to reject green tick and require people to upload newer certificates? How will they determine expiry date for triple vaxed people?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

From ABC blog....

More information on the TGA booster approved for 16 and 17-year-olds​

The first booster shot to be approved for anyone under 18-years-old has been approved, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) giving the green light for Pfizer to be used in 16 and 17-year-olds.

But, like with all vaccines, the expert group on immunisation ATAGI now has to also approve the Pfizer booster for that age group and decide when they should be able to get it.

At the moment adults can choose from either the Pfizer or Moderna boosters.

The TGA says it’s already used as one for 16 and 17-year-olds in the US, Israel and the UK.

Last week Australia added a fourth vaccine to the national rollout after the Novavax got its final tick of approval from ATAGI.

 

[Quickstatus]

CovidVax - one at the start of every season
Some permutation of the below?
Maybe
PZ Nov
SV Mar
AZ Jun
NV Sep

Rinse and repeat forever???

ServiceNSW - maybe they will have a MyCovidRego like the car rego which expires and has to be renewed.

 

[mviy]

Things look on track to reach about 50% with a 3rd dose for 18+ in about two to three weeks, I think. So mid-February.

One would think if a widespread booster mandate came in that they'd want a clear majority of those eligible boosted before it takes effect so perhaps mid to late March could be when it kicks in (and earlier for workers and visitors to high risk settings).

 

[NM]

Things look on track to reach about 50% with a 3rd dose for 18+ in about two to three weeks, I think. So mid-February.

I did my part to getting closer to that mark yesterday

 

[mviy]

Well both of the major media outlets are reporting on The Victorian Premier's comments that he expects a third dose will be mandated soon.

However if the Feds don't go along with this one would think making such a ban work in a way that's not overly burdensome for hospitality etc. will be difficult. One would think the Medicare app and the state check-in apps would require updates.

I think if ATAGI does recommend a mandate they will recommend a grace period before it takes effect to also enable time for this issue to get sorted out.

If a mandate does come in it will be interesting to see how this impacts the vaccination rates. There is certainly capacity there to be doing more vaccinations than what is actually taking place.

With NSW at 39.4%, VIC at 38.7% and the country at 38.4% for 18+ some progress is being made.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Was in a pharmac_ in South Melbourne yesterday afternoon and there was a LOT of people waiting for their boosters. Felt pretty bad for the pharmacist, he was doing 5 jabs then back to fill scripts, then another 5 jabs, then scripts, he was really run of his feet! As were the other staff too, really.

 

[flydoc]

According to the ABC both Qld and Vic premiers planning to raise mandating booster shots.

From a practical POV I wonder how they will expire 2 dose certificates already issued? Will new certificates be issued with expiry dates, will apps be modified to reject green tick and require people to upload newer certificates? How will they determine expiry date for triple vaxed people?

NT has announced mandatory booster for workers in “high risk” workplaces by March 11, and those in other public facing roles by April 22

NT's COVID hospitalisations rise to new peak as booster shot mandated for Territory workers

There are now 105 people with COVID-19 in hospital in the Northern Territory, up from 95 on Thursday, as the NT government announces more than 1,000 new cases of the virus.

www.abc.net.au

 

[jrfsp]

From the Age:

"All older Australians could be approved for a second booster shot as the country’s expert health bodies weigh up the benefits of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine for the non-immunocompromised."

 

[Pushka]

From the Age:

"All older Australians could be approved for a second booster shot as the country’s expert health bodies weigh up the benefits of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine for the non-immunocompromised."

My niece has had her fourth as she is severely immunocompromised.

 

[OZDUCK]

I haven't seen anything recently about a booster shot being combined with the annual flu shot. Has that idea been proved impractical?

 

[mviy]

From the Age:

"All older Australians could be approved for a second booster shot as the country’s expert health bodies weigh up the benefits of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine for the non-immunocompromised."

That's probably a reference to Greg Hunt's press conference today where he was asked about a second booster (or fourth dose): Canberra Press Conference, 31 January 2022, on Australia COVID update, vaccine booster program and Omicron BA.2 sub variant

Post automatically merged: Jan 31, 2022

I haven't seen anything recently about a booster shot being combined with the annual flu shot. Has that idea been proved impractical?

I think that's something Moderna is/will plan to test. If we need a COVID booster annually it would be ideal to be able to combine it with the flu shot. Whilst boosters are needed more regularly then there's not as strong a case for combining the two when you'll need a separate COVID booster anyway.

 

[Lynda2475]

I understoof Novovax is the one they were looking at combining with flu vax, as it uses older technology.

Even if available in a single shot, Id prefer to keep my covid and flu shots separate, as there i currently no synergy in the timing of when Id need covid booster vs flu shot.

 

[Lynda2475]

So I notice Casey Briggs was reporting 2nd dose rate for 5-11s, i had understood that this cohort had t wait 6 weeks between doses, so am wondering how some are onto their second dose already?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1488463073421979655

 

[dairyfloss]

So I notice Casey Briggs was reporting 2nd dose rate for 5-11s, i had understood that this cohort had t wait 6 weeks between doses, so am wondering how some are onto their second dose already?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1488463073421979655

It was suggested that while 6 weeks is recommended, that being double dosed as soon as possible (i.e. before or at the start of the school term) may present equivalent benefit, though more so perhaps toward the community. I think GPs were agreeing it at 3 weeks on parents request?

EDIT: to add note - ATAGI still recommends the longer interval (8 weeks, in fact), though Pfizer suggests 3 weeks in the product information; that might be where the variation is coming from

 

[Port Power]

I haven't seen anything recently about a booster shot being combined with the annual flu shot. Has that idea been proved impractical?

I heard this on ABC radio yesterday. I do not recall who the speaker was, but an immunologist or qualified specialist. He said no problems now with having both at the same time. I don't remember hearing "in the same injection" though, just "at the same time".

 

[drron]

And I know of a couple of HCWs here who forgot the actual age of their offspring and 11 year olds became 12.

 

[Lynda2475]

And I know of a couple of HCWs here who forgot the actual age of their offspring and 11 year olds became 12.

I can understand this, as a 12 yo gets 2 full doses but an 11 yo gets two half doses - not likely to be much of a size difference between the same child at 11 or 12.