{"id":315246,"date":"2022-03-25T15:44:34","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T05:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=315246"},"modified":"2022-03-25T22:22:08","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T12:22:08","slug":"fourth-shot-for-over-65s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/03\/25\/fourth-shot-for-over-65s\/","title":{"rendered":"Fourth Shot For Over 65s"},"content":{"rendered":"

March 25, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adults aged over 65 – and people at the highest risk of severe illness – will soon be eligible to receive a fourth COVID-19 vaccination.<\/p>\n

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) announced the recommendation on Friday.<\/p>\n

ATAGI has recommended that the rollout of the additional booster dose start in April, coinciding with the rollout of the 2022 flu vaccination program.<\/p>\n

The fourth dose can be given four months after the first booster shoot.<\/p>\n

It aims to increase protection for vulnerable groups ahead of winter and an expected surge in COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n

The fourth shot will be available for people aged over 65 (or aged 50 for First Nations residents); aged and disability care residents and people who are severely immunocompromised.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe extra dose is about preventing the most vulnerable from harm and those most at risk of severe illness,\u201d Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe evidence-based advice is to go for the high-risk groups in the first instance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flu shots can be co-administered with the COVID-19 booster.<\/p>\n

Cases are currently spiking around Australia due to the more transmissible BA.2 variant of Omicron.<\/p>\n