Australia says no need for fifth vaccine, even as new Covid cases rise

Robert Besser
20 Nov 2022, 07:51 GMT+10

Despite the start of a new COVID-19 surge, Australian health authorities have recommended against the public receiving a fifth COVID-19 vaccine shot
Health Minister Mark Butler said new cases of Covid infections were 47 percent higher last week than one week earlier, but cases remain 85 percent below the previous peak in late July
He cited reports about Singapore's recent wave, which showed that severe illness and death were rare among vaccinated people, and that a fifth shot had minimal impact on virus transmissions

CANBERRA, Australia: Despite the start of a new COVID-19 surge, Australian health authorities have recommended against the public receiving a fifth COVID-19 vaccine shot, but they have urged those eligible to sign up for their remaining booster doses.

During a press conference this week, Health Minister Mark Butler said new cases of Covid infections were 47 percent higher last week than one week earlier, but cases remain 85 percent below the previous peak in late July.

Citing reports about Singapore's recent wave, which showed that severe illness and death were rare among vaccinated people, and that a fifth shot had minimal impact on virus transmissions, Butler said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunizations (ATAGI) had recommended against a fifth dose, or third booster.

"ATAGI has considered international evidence, as well as the local data around vaccination numbers, as well as case numbers in the pandemic, and decided not to recommend a fifth dose," said Butler.

"They noted that severe disease and death during that wave in Singapore was very rare for people who had at least two doses of vaccine for COVID-19," he added.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly also said the Singaporean experience showed that the current wave would likely peak soon, and cases would drop quickly afterwards.

New booster recommendations will be made early next year, ahead of the southern-hemisphere winter.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Asia Pacific Star.

More Information

30 ℃

Partly Cloudy in Seletar

Asia

Section

Myanmar ethnic group alliance captures trade gate on Chinese border

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Kyar Win, spokesperson for the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, which launched a surprise offensive last month against ...

Thailand will downgrade growth forecast for 2023 to 2.7 percent

BANGKOK, Thailand: This week, Thailand's Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana said after a weaker-than-expected third quarter, the country will downgrade ...

Former PTI advisor Shahzad Akbar faces shocking acid attack in UK

LONDON, UK - Shahzad Akbar, a former accountability advisor to former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, has claimed that an ...

China pledges to deepen bilateral trade relations with Vietnam

BEIJING, China: The country's commerce ministry said that during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ho ...

Diplomatic push: Qatari minister pledges swift action for Bipin Joshi's release from Hamas

KATHMANDU, Nepal - NP Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged Qatar's visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Soltan bin Saad ...

Election suggestions of friendly countries welcomed if supportive: FM Momen

DHAKA, Bangladesh - According to Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen, Bangladesh and the United States believe in democracy and ...

Business

Section