Starting next week, Australians over the age of 30 will be able to get a fourth dosage of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Hospitalization rates throughout the nation have been on the rise, and the highly contagious novel Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 were likely a contributing factor in the news made on Thursday.
The new subvariants have surpassed older coronavirus strains as the most common types in numerous nations, and researchers fear they might cause an increase in both hospitalizations and fatalities due to their rapid spread.
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, has issued a health alert due to a resurgence of illnesses caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. Meanwhile, Victoria reported that these strains are now widespread across the state.
“The epidemic is not finished, we are approaching a third wave that is exerting great strain on our health and hospital system,” Health Minister Mark Butler said during a media event.
Australia’s hospitals are housing an estimated 4,000 patients with COVID-19, the highest number since early February, when the nation had another major Omicron epidemic.
According to Butler, the fourth dosage will be available to anyone over the age of 30 starting on Monday, according to revised guidelines from Australia’s immunisation advisory committee.
More than seven million individuals will now qualify for a second booster injection because of the reforms. Only those over the age of 65 or those with a severe disease were eligible for the second booster dosage.
Australia was able to keep the pandemic under control early on with rigorous border controls and sudden lockdowns, but as vaccination rates rose, the country gradually eased restrictions and has been living with the virus since late last year.
