Anyone over 30 will be able to get a second COVID-19 vaccine booster from Monday, although it is actively recommended only for people older than 50, states new ATAGI advice.  

The group met on Wednesday to discuss broadening access to the so-called winter dose in the wake of Australia’s surging hospitalisations, driven by the highly infectious Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. 

In a statement on Thursday, ATAGI also recommended the interval between booster doses should be reduced from four to three months, with the gap between COVID-19 infection and a booster remaining at three months.

Minister for Health Mark Butler said on Thursday that the broadening of criteria for the fourth vaccine dose meant an additional 7.4 million Australians would be eligible from Monday, 11 July.