As of 4 January 2022, you are eligible for a COVID-19 third dose (booster) if you meet the following criteria:
- You are 18 years of age or older, and;
- You had your second dose of your primary course of COVID-19 vaccine four or more months ago.
This is a change from the previous five-month interval, and reflects updated advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
A COVID-19 third dose is strongly recommended, as it helps prevent waning immunity against COVID-19. A third dose increases your protection against:
- infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
- severe disease
- dying from COVID-19.
Eligible people will receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as their third dose. You can safely get either Pfizer or Moderna as your third dose regardless of which COVID-19 vaccine you received for your initial doses.
Please note: third doses (boosters) are different from third primary doses, which are given to those who are immunosuppressed, so they can have the same level of protection as the general population.
For more information on third doses, please visit our webpage.