West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available from Monday, with no requirement to book an appointment.
On Thursday, the federal government announced the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI) had recommended booster vaccines be made available for adults, after the Pfizer vaccine was approved as a booster shot by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
In making the announcement, Health Minister Greg Hunt said the official program would begin on November 8, although some residents in aged and disability care would receive their booster shots before that date.
However, Mr McGowan said any West Australian adult who had received their second vaccine dose more than six months ago could walk into a state clinic from Monday, November 1 and receive a third jab.
"The medical advice is [that], irrespective of what vaccine you had first, the booster vaccine is now the Pfizer vaccine," he said.
"That will apply to anyone over the age of 18.
"I just urge anyone in that position to go and get your booster vaccine and as time goes by, more and more people will be eligible as they hit the six-month period from their second dose, so that's good news for people across the state who want to get vaccinated."
Premier sees community transmission in east 'before Christmas'
On Saturday, the state government announced that any travellers to Western Australia from medium, high and extreme-risk jurisdictions would need to be double-vaccinated against COVID-19 from Friday, November 5.
Currently, that would include any arrivals from New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
The Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland are classed as very low risk at present, but the Premier indicated that could change.
"Queensland is dropping its border shortly to New South Wales and Victoria, so is South Australia and Tasmania," Mr McGowan said.
"That will mean that we can put in place the requirement for double-dose vaccination once they get community spread of the virus."
Despite the recent fall in NSW case numbers, Mr McGowan said he was not willing to risk easing border restrictions just yet.
"There could be further spread of the virus, or you could have people who say, 'I want to go to New South Wales, leave the country, come back into New South Wales and then just come back home' who are COVID-positive.
"I just want us to get through this period and get to very high levels of vaccinations before we run the risk of people coming from New South Wales, Victoria or overseas, who would spread the virus here."
Loading form...
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTEwLTMxL21hcmstbWNnb3dhbi1jb3ZpZC0xOS1ib29zdGVyLXZhY2NpbmUtdGhpcmQtZG9zZS13YS8xMDA1ODM1NDjSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwNTgzNTQ4?oc=5
2021-10-31 04:04:04Z
CAIiEMF8pY0nuKJU7VilwawEZhcqFwgEKg4IACoGCAow3vI9MPeaCDDEvrgG
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "West Australian Premier Mark McGowan says COVID-19 booster shots available from Monday - ABC News"
Post a Comment