‘Crazy’ not to get Covid booster

The NSW Health Minister has said it’s “crazy” to skip coronavirus vaccination boosters as the state averages about 10,000 new infections a day.

Chief health officer Kerry Chant said on Tuesday hospitalisations could get up to the numbers seen in January as the new variants of the Omicron strain, BA4 and BA5, near an expected peak later this month.

“I’m concerned about this picture,” she said.

The simultaneous spread of influenza was an additional worry, she said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new “pesky little variants” of the coronavirus could infect people even if they had already been sick with Covid-19 or vaccinated, but said booster shots could protect against serious illness.

“If you have had two (doses), or one, and you don’t have number three, to put it bluntly, you’re crazy,” Mr Hazzard said on Tuesday.

The latest virus update from NSW Health showed 10,504 people reported positive tests in the 24 hours to 4pm Monday. There were 58 people in intensive care who were infected and 14 Covid-19-positive people died.

While nearly everyone in the state aged over 16 has had at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, only 68.1 per cent have had three doses.

Dr Chant said people should monitor advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, which could soon update its guidelines around vaccines.

It is believed the group might discuss the need for a fourth dose when it convenes on Wednesday.

But Dr Chant said it was already clear that two doses were no longer enough.

“Previously, we did tell you to get two doses, and that that will provide protection against Covid,” she said. “But the virus has changed. So now with Omicron, the evidence is clear that we need three or in some cases four doses to provide the best protection.”

Dr Chant recommended wearing a mask on public transport and in other public indoor areas such as shops and pharmacies.