• All Australians over the age of 18 will receive a fifth dosage of the Covid-19 vaccine later this month.
• Up until now, a fifth dose had only been advised for those with severe immunosuppression.
• The fourth dosage is now available to all individuals between the ages of 18 and 29.

All Australians over the age of 18 who haven’t had the coronavirus or been vaccinated within the last six months will receive a fifth dosage of the Covid-19 vaccine later this month, according to Health Minister Mark Butler.

More than half of the population of the nation—roughly 14 million people—now qualify for the booster dose as a result of the ruling, and starting on February 20 they will be able to get vaccines tailored specifically for the Omicron variety.

Up until now, a fifth dose had only been advised for those with severe immunosuppression, with the booster shot to be administered three months following the fourth shot.

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Australia, one of the nations with the highest rates of coronavirus vaccination, has so far given two doses of the vaccine to 95% of adults over the age of 16. Australia has been able to maintain comparatively low Covid populations when compared to other industrialized economies thanks to this.

However, the uptake of booster shots has been modest; according to official data, only 44% of people have received their fourth dose and about 72% have received three doses.

Butler recommended those over 65 get their fifth shot if they are eligible because they continue to be at a high risk of developing serious diseases and dying from the coronavirus.

According to Butler, the deployment of the fifth shot will aid in dealing with the inevitable arrival of the next wave of Covid in the course of 2023.

The fourth dosage is now available to all individuals between the ages of 18 and 29 thanks to the government’s decision and an update from Australia’s immunization advisory committee. Previously, only those over 30 or those who were immunocompromised were advised to have a fourth dose.

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