HEALTH SERVICES
Health Services
On this page you will find information on:
Australia now has the new COVID-19 Monovalent
Omicron XBB.15 vaccines available
The Health Government together with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have given new advice on XBB1.5 for use as both initial and booster shots in people 5 years and older (age varies depending on brand of vaccine).1
Did you know that COVID-19 vaccines come in 2 types:
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Monovalent XBB.1.5 which targets the current Omicron subvariants
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Bivalent which protects against earlier Omicron subvariants and the original COVID-19 strain.
All COVID-19 vaccines offer strong protection against severe disease, but the monovalent XBB1.5 provides a slight increase in protection against the current strain and is preferred.2
Recommendations for COVID-19 2023 booster:
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Individuals 65 years or older are advised to get a 2023 COVID-19 booster
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Individuals aged 18 to 64 who are severely immunocompromise should consider a 2023 booster
A second 2023 booster is recommended if 6 months have passed since your last dose and you are:
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75 years or older
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A younger adult with risk factors for serious illness
Unvaccinated individuals for 2023 doses are urged to get vaccinated promptly. For those who have already received their 2023 doses, ATAGI does not advise revaccination with monovalent XBB.1.5.
Table obtained from the ATAGI website.3
*XBB.1.5-containing vaccine preferred for all doses. For eligible children aged 6 months to 4 years, use Pfizer Original 6 month - <5 year formulation (maroon cap) as the only available formulation for this age group. Timing: 2023 vaccine doses should be given from 6 months after a person’s last dose and can be given in early 2024, pending updated advice from ATAGI.
#Includes those with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness or those with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities which increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19.
^For details, refer to the ATAGI recommendations on the use of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.
Helpful Resources:
ATAGI Recommendation on the use of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.
References:
1. https://www.health.tas.gov.au/news/news/new-covid-19-boosters-approved-use-australia
4. https://thephn.com.au/news/new-atagi-recommendations-for-omicron-xbb-1-5-covid-19-vaccines
What is COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines stimulate the body’s natural defences to strengthen the immune system response to a condition or illness. Vaccines use inactivated or severely weakened pathogens such as viruses or bacteria to trick the immune system into producing antibodies. After receiving a viral vaccine, the body’s immune system recognises and remembers the virus.
If you should be exposed to the virus later, your immune system can fight off an infection more effectively because it has already produced antibodies to the virus.
The development of an effective vaccine for COVID-19 has been a global public health challenge. The race continues to manufacture and distribute effective and safe vaccines to billions of people.
How is a COVID-19 vaccine approved?
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for assessing all COVID-19 vaccines before they can be used in Australia. Before a vaccine is approved for use in Australia, it must pass the TGA’s rigorous assessment and approval processes. This includes assessment of its safety, quality and effectiveness. The TGA formally evaluates vaccines in multiple stages, and seeks out further information and clarification.
COVID-19 Vaccinations for General Population
Chemist Discount Centre stores are happy to provide AstraZeneca, Moderna & Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations for our local area and the wider community.
COVID-19 vaccines help to protect our community against coronavirus by preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19.
The vaccines are free for everyone in Australia.
The recommended ages are different for each vaccine, as approved by the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA):
The AstraZeneca vaccine can be given to people aged 18 years and over
2 doses, 4 weeks apart, are required to complete the primary course of vaccination.
A booster dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine is recommended to be used, and may be given 5 months after the second dose was administered, for people aged 18 years and over.
A booster dose is not currently recommended for people aged under 18 years, and there are currently no vaccines approved for use as a booster in this age group.
The Moderna vaccine can be given to people aged 12 years and over.
2 doses, 4 weeks apart, are required to complete the primary course of vaccination.
A booster dose of this same vaccine may be given 5 months after the second dose was administered, for people aged 18 years and over.
A booster dose is not currently recommended for people aged under 18 years, and there are currently no vaccines approved for use as a booster in this age group.
The Pfizer vaccine can be given to people aged 12 years and over.
2 doses, 3-6 weeks apart, are required to complete the primary course of vaccination.
A booster dose of this same vaccine may be given 5 months after the second dose was administered, for people aged 18 years and over.
A booster dose is not currently recommended for people aged under 18 years, and there are currently no vaccines approved for use as a booster in this age group.
You can book online by visiting our booking link to get your first and second doses (primary course of vaccination) and your booster dose at any of our participating pharmacies.
COVID-19 Vaccinations for General Population
COVID-19 Vaccinations for Children aged 5 – 11 Years
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program will be extended to all children aged 5 to 11 from 10 January 2022 after the Australian Government accepted recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
A new formulation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) is available for use in children aged 5-11 years by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Children aged 5-11 years who have previously had COVID-19 infection can receive the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
This is recommended following recovery from their illness or vaccination can be deferred for up to 6 months.
The recommended schedule for vaccination in this age group is 2 doses, 8 weeks apart.
The interval can be shortened in special circumstances to a minimum of 3 weeks, such as in an outbreak response, prior to the initiation of significant immunosuppression or international travel.
Children who turn 12 after their first dose may receive the adolescent/adult formation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to complete their primary vaccine course.
A booster dose is not currently recommended for people aged under 18 years, and there are currently no vaccines approved for use as a booster in this age group.
You can now book online for your children by visiting our booking link at any of our participating pharmacies.
3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine for
individuals who are severely immunocompromised
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends a 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in severely immunocompromised populations to address the risk of suboptimal or non-response to the standard 2 dose schedule.
The 3rd dose is intended to maximise the level of immune response to as close as possible to the general population.
It is recommended that all individuals aged 12 years and over with certain conditions or on therapies leading to severe immunocompromise as listed in Box 1 of this document, receive a 3rd primary dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
An mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) is preferred to Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) for this 3rd dose.
The recommended interval for the 3rd dose is 2 - 6 months after the 2nd dose of vaccine.
A booster dose on top of the 3rd primary dose is currently not recommended for people who are severely immunocompromised and have already had this 3rd primary dose.
Preparing for Your Vaccination
COVID-19 vaccinations are voluntary and free.
Before your vaccination appointment, you should make sure your details are up to date with Medicare.
If you don’t have your account set up, you can:
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enrol in Medicare, if you’re not already enrolled
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set up your Medicare online account if you’re enrolled in Medicare, but don’t have Medicare linked to myGov or
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get an Individual Health Identifier (IHI), if you’re not eligible for Medicare
If you don’t have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare, you can get your free vaccination at a Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic or a state or territory vaccination clinic. More information is available on the Department of Health website here.
Please do not come to your vaccination appointment:
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if you are feeling unwell with fever, cough, runny nose or other symptoms that could be from COVID-19
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if you are waiting for COVID-19 test results, or have tested positive for COVID-19
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if you are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or
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if you are in quarantine
If you have had another vaccine in the 7 days before your COVID-19 vaccine appointment, please let your local pharmacy know as we may need to reschedule your appointment.
If you cannot make it to your vaccination appointment, please contact your local Chemist as soon as possible to arrange a new appointment.
You may have other questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, please see our frequently asked questions page HERE