New COVID booster shots are now available in Australia.
And as cases rise ahead of the holiday period yet again, experts say the new vaccines will still help protect against the subvariants currently spreading around the country.
So, how effective are they, who can get them, and where can you get them?
What is the latest COVID-19 vaccine?
The new generation of boosters are called “monovalent Omicron XBB 1.5 vaccines”.
“Monovalent” means they contain just one strain of COVID-19, making them a bit different to the “bivalent” vaccines we already had on the market.
They are designed to target the Omicron subvariant XBB 1.5, which you might remember by its unofficial nickname, the “Kraken”.
Three versions are available in Australia:
- One for people over the age of 12 from Pfizer
- One for children aged between five and 12 from Pfizer
- One for people over the age of 12 from Moderna
Who should get the new COVID booster and what is the advice?
All adults can get the new vaccine if it’s been more than six months since their last booster shot or COVID illness.
However, Australia’s leading vaccine advisory group, ATAGI, only recommends it for certain groups.
If you’re over 65 or have underlying health conditions and haven’t had a 2023 booster yet, it’s strongly recommended that you get one.
If you’re 75 or above, ATAGI says you should get the new vaccine even if you have already had a booster shot this year.
The new vaccine could also be beneficial as a second 2023 booster if you live in residential aged care, have never had COVID before, or have complex medical conditions, ATAGI says.
ATAGI’s recommendations are different for adults aged 18 to 64 with no underlying health conditions:
- If you have not had a booster shot this year, you can “consider” getting one
- If you have already had a booster shot this year, the XBB 1.5 vaccine is not recommended at this stage
Are the symptoms still the same?
Yes. They haven’t changed since the start of the pandemic.
According to the department you can experience:
- fever
- coughing
- sore throat
- shortness of breath.
What to do if you have COVID-19
You’re not required by law to isolate if you have COVID-19 symptoms, but it is strongly encouraged you stay at home.
Here’s what the federal health website says to do if you test positive for COVID-19:
You should not visit high-risk settings like hospitals and aged and disability care settings:
- for at least 7 days or until symptoms have gone
- unless seeking immediate medical care.
To help protect those around you, we recommend:
- avoiding contact with people who are at higher risk of severe disease
- wearing a mask outside the home
- working from home where possible
- avoiding going to school, public areas, or travel on public transport, in taxis or ride-share services
- practising good hygiene
- following your local health department’s advice when leaving home.
If you do need to leave your home during the infectious period, health authorities recommend wearing a P2/N95 mask to protect others.
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