Victorians can now get their booster dose of a Covid-19 vaccine just three months after their second dose, Premier Dan Andrews has announced. This brings the state into line with NSW, which also announced it was shortening the booster dose interval on January 19, as well as countries like the UK and Ireland.
"I’m pleased to announce that, effectively immediately, the dose interval will be reduced to three months across our state for your third dose. So if you’ve had your second dose within the last three months, then you will now be eligible," said Andrews.
"That’s on the advice of our public health team, consistent with ATAGI’s broader statement. It’s safe. It’s effective. The total number of people eligible increases substantially by 2 million Victorians and it will help us get more people third-dose boosted quicker than would otherwise be the case."
The changes mean that as of January 19, anyone who got their second dose of vaccine on or before October 19 can now get a booster dose, which will be either Pfizer or Moderna.
Coinciding with the reduced interval for boosters, the state has also announced a four-day 'booster blitz', with extended hours at vaccination centres and more walk-in clinics between Friday, January 21 and Monday, January 24. These changes mean the state will be able to offer a whopping 60,000 additional appointments over the weekend. The walk-in clinics include:
- Royal Exhibition Building (walk-up access available 8am to 8pm daily during the blitz)
- Latrobe University Bundoora (walk-up 8am to 8pm)
- Sandown Racecourse (walk-up 9m to 6pm Saturday and Sunday)
- Dandenong Plaza (walk-up 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday)
- Frankston’s Bayside Centre (walk-up 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday)
- Sunshine Hospital (walk-up 8am to 8pm)
- Bendigo Vaccination Hub (walk-up 9am to 8pm); and
- Ballarat Mercure (walk-up 8:30am to 3pm Sunday)