Fifth COVID-19 jab dose on way for Australian adults

Australian adults will be able to get a fifth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the next few weeks.

Health Minister Mark Butler said new jabs would be on offer from later this month after the federal government accepted the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, according to reports.

Adults who have not had a booster or a case of COVID-19 in the past six months will be eligible for another dose from 20 February.

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Australians were already able to get the first two doses needed to be fully vaccinated, plus two boosters.

Butler said millions more Omicron-specific booster doses were due to arrive in the country this month, in addition to the 4 million already in stock.

"From February 20, all adults who haven't had a booster or an infection in the past six months can go out and get a booster shot, to give them additional protection against severe illness from COVID," he said.

"If you're 65 or over, or you're an adult at risk of severe COVID illness, and it's been six months since your last booster or infection, it's now time for a booster.

"The Government has secured millions of doses of Omicron-specific boosters, with millions more arriving this month, in the largest one-month arrival since late 2021.

"Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells and I will be writing to aged care providers to encourage them to bring local pharmacists and GPs into their facilities to administer the additional booster doses."

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