Immunocompromised Aussies Can Get a Third COVID-19 Jab From Monday

The ATAGI approved the third dose to prepare the community for a Delta outbreak.

Great news for Australians with compromised immune systems: from Monday, you can get a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

In a statement released earlier today, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advised that anyone over the age of 12 with conditions or therapies that lead to them being severely immunocompromised should and can seek out a third dose of a COVID jab to assist their immune response in getting “as close as possible to the general population”.

In the announcement, the ATAGI has said that the preferred vaccine for the third jab would be either Pfizer or Moderna—an mRNA vaccine—however people who initially got the Astra Zeneca jab can get it again for their third dose.

When the ATAGI says “severely immunocompromised” Australians, in general, they’re referring to people who have a weakened immune system and therefore have a reduced ability to fight infections and other diseases.

An immunocompromised person could be someone undergoing cancer treatment, a person living with an autoimmune disease, someone living with HIV and many other diseases. It also includes people undergoing treatments that may be immunosuppressive like steroids for arthritis, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

The recommendation is also being extended to people who have a primary immunodeficiency, long-term haemodialysis (a condition in which the kidneys need assistance to function), and anyone living with advanced or untreated HIV.

“It’s a very specific group of the population that have an issue with their immune system,” Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said.

“Unfortunately, some people that have immune systems that don’t work as well as the general population, those vaccines may not lead to that protection.

“So the evidence is now clear that people in those categories of immune-compromised should receive a third dose, that should happen at a period after the second dose, between two and six months after that time of the second dose.”

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said that this is the “first stage” of the country’s booster jab rollout, which is due to start from as early as Monday next week.

“I’m pleased to be able to announce the first stage of the booster today,” Hunt told the press this morning.

“We received advice from the Australian ethical advisory group on immunisation recommending that boosters or third shots be made available for the immunocompromised so we will aim to do that from Monday.”

Mr Hunt also said that around 500,000 Australians fall into the category of ‘severely immunocompromised’ and to ensure that they are just as protected as the rest of the community, they need to get the third vax as soon as possible.

If you or anyone you know falls into these categories, ATAGI recommends you have a chat to your GP and make a plan to have that third dose done in the months after the second dose.

As for the rest of the community, the federal government is expected to provide advice on booster shots by the end of October.

If you haven’t yet booked or had your first COVID-19 jab check out the government’s resources on COVID-19 vaccines, chat with your GP, and book an appointment at your local vaccination clinic.

If you’re not sure about your eligibility just yet, you can find out and book in at a clinic here.

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