Abstract

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have developed recommendations on the use of additional (booster) doses of COVID-19 vaccine. they updated the recommendations on March 1st 2022. What’s changed:

  • Nuvaxovid (Novavax) can be used as a booster in an individual aged 18 years and above if no other COVID-19 vaccine is considered suitable for that individual.
  • Recommendations concerning the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose have been updated. AstraZeneca is no longer recommended for use as the booster dose for people who received a primary vaccination course of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, although it can still be used for this purpose if these individuals decline receiving an mRNA vaccine as a booster dose. AstraZeneca is now only recommended when there are medical contraindications to the mRNA vaccines.
  • Comirnaty (Pfizer) can be used as a booster in individuals aged 16 years and above.
  • Updated evidence of vaccine effectiveness of booster doses against the Omicron variant has been included.
  • Recommendation
  • Western Pacific
  • Australia
  • booster dose
  • COVID-19