Protecting against serious disease this holiday season
Date published:
29 May 2024
The Australian Department of Health and Aged Care has provided a number of vaccine-related updates and reminders ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
Reminder to get recommended 2023 COVID-19 dose/s
Given the rise in COVID-19 cases leading into the holiday season, the Department urges members of the public to get vaccinated if they haven’t had their recommended COVID-19 dose/s in 2023.
There have been no changes to current COVID-19 vaccine eligibility recommendations, which are now listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
For more information, please visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
New COVID-19 vaccines available to target current variants
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has approved the use of new COVID-19 XBB 1.5 vaccines as part of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program. This new vaccine is available (from 11 December) along with existing bivalent vaccines.
All available COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide strong protection against serious disease. The new XBB 1.5 vaccines have been found to provide modest improved protection against the COVID-19 strains circulating in the community.
For more information on ATAGI’s recommendations, please visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Vaccinations for overseas travel
With the end of year fast approaching, the Department is urging Australians travelling overseas to ensure that vaccinations are added to travel checklists. Travelling overseas can increase exposure to serious disease. Australian are being asked to check the following for themselves as well as family members including children, who will be travelling overseas:
For more information on travel vaccinations, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website or speak to your GP.