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Are you due for your COVID-19 vaccine? There are many vaccination clinic options available for you across Melbourne’s South East which we have compiled in our weekly Community Noticeboard.
Information on third (booster) doses of COVID-19 vaccinations
You are due for a third dose if you are 16 years of age or older and it has been three months after the completion of a primary course of COVID-19 vaccines (two doses).
While two primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are effective at preventing infection and serious illness, international evidence suggests that this protection against COVID-19 gradually decreases over time, particularly from four months onwards.
A third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine helps prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19.
Information on COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years
Children aged 5 to 11 years are eligible for a paediatric dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The recommended schedule for vaccination in this age group is two doses, 8 weeks apart.
Children who are vaccinated receive direct protection against COVID-19.
While children and young people are less likely than adults to get severe symptoms if they contract COVID-19, some can still get very sick – this includes children with certain pre-existing conditions, such as obesity, Down syndrome, or cerebral palsy.
Some children and adolescents can also develop chronic symptoms more than one or two months after COVID infection. This is called Long COVID.
Children can transmit COVID-19, but vaccination will help prevent them transmitting the virus to other children and older age groups, including family members who may be at higher risk, such as grandparents.
Have you had COVID-19?
Anyone who has had COVID-19 is able and strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 vaccine if eligible as soon as they feel better (able to return to normal activities) and after they have completed 7 days of isolation.
Vaccination is the best form of protection against COVID-19. While a COVID-19 infection may provide some natural immunity, it will decrease over time. By getting vaccinated, you will receive maximum protection against further COVID-19 infection.