With 97.3%1 of Australians over the age of 16 with their first COVID-19 dose, it’s easy to think that you’re safe from the virus that disrupted the world two years ago.
However, due to the long-term symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness that COVID-19 can cause, being as vaccinated as possible means that you are protecting yourself and others from the severity of this disease.
We go into some of the questions that people have around COVID-19 and whether or not they need a booster.
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia, regardless of your Medicare or visa status. Your general practitioner (GP) cannot charge you for the vaccine.
Do I need the booster if I’ve already had a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine?
While the booster dose isn’t mandatory, it’s strongly recommended to help you maintain the best protection you can against the virus.
As the world is still learning about the effects that COVID-19 has on the body, as well as dealing with new variants, it’s important to make sure that you are still protected as the virus changes.
How do I know if I’m up to date on my COVID-19 vaccinations?
Whether or not you’re up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations depends on your age group. We’re going to focus on people aged 16 years or older, but if you want to find out more information about COVID-19 vaccinations for children, you can find out here.
You’re up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations if you have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine where two doses are the complete primary course, one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine where one dose is the complete primary course OR if you’re immunocompromised, three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine2.
It can be a bit confusing, but basically if you’ve had your first full vaccine (whether it’s one dose or two, depending on what vaccine you were eligible for) and a booster shot of COVID-19, you are fully up to date.
You are not up to date if you have had no doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, only one dose when you’re meant to have two, only two doses when it’s been six months since your second dose and you haven’t gone for your booster OR if you’re recommended to have an additional COVID-19 booster dose and it’s been six months since your initial booster dose of COVID-19.
If you’re overdue, you are not able to generate a current COVID-19 vaccine digital certificate.
If I’ve already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to get my booster?
If you’ve recovered from COVID-19 and want to get your booster, it’s important that you wait 3 months after the confirmed infection.
A longer gap between infection and vaccination is likely to lead to a better immune response3.
Blooms The Chemist offers boosters nationwide. Click here to book yours at your local Blooms The Chemist today.
Will we need to get more boosters in the future?
As our knowledge worldwide expands around the COVID-19 virus, experts all over the world will have a better understanding of how long our current vaccinations provide protection against the virus.
If new variants emerge, or new information is brought to light, it will help inform whether more boosters are needed in the future to keep the world safe.
I’m not vaccinated. Where can I get my COVID-19 vaccination done?
There are four vaccines available in Australia for you to get if you are not currently vaccinated4. They are:
- Pfizer (available for people aged five and over)
- Novavax (available for people aged 12 and over)
- Moderna (available for people aged 6 months to under 5 years with severe immunocompromisation or disabilities)
- AstraZeneca (available for people aged 60 years and over OR people aged 18 to 59 years old and have chosen to have the vaccine after discussing this with their health professional)
Not vaccinated? At Blooms The Chemist, we offer Pfizer, Novavax and Moderna. If you’d like to get vaccinated, please make a booking at your local pharmacy below.
References
1Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Vaccination numbers and statistics, accessed 3 January 2023.
2Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, accessed 3 January 2023.
3Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Is it true? Do people who have had COVID-19 and recovered need to get vaccinated?, accessed 3 January 2023.
4NSW Health, Booster vaccination - FAQS, accessed 3 January 2023.