Cut to booster wait time
Jab change as Torquay Hotel cluster grows
BARWON Health has welcomed a move that means Geelong residents can access a booster shot five months after their second Covid vaccine dose.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has recommended a fivemonth interval between second and third doses, reduced from six months.
ATAGI has added Moderna to Pfizer as the vaccines recommended as booster shots, regardless of which jab people received initially.
Barwon South West public health unit director Eugene Athan said Barwon Health was pleased with the move to bring boosters forward, offering more protection against Covid in our region.
“We will immediately implement this policy at the community vaccination hub, starting on Monday,” Professor Athan said.
“While much is still unknown about the Omicron variant, it is believed the booster vaccine will provide additional protection against all strains of the virus.
“There are currently no known confirmed cases of Omicron identified in the Geelong region.”
A Covid cluster linked to the Torquay Hotel had 28 active cases listed on Sunday.
“The Torquay Hotel cluster is now one of the largest active outbreaks in the state,” Prof Athan said.
He said Barwon Health had updated exposure times, which could be found on its Facebook page.
Various times are listed between November 26 and December 5.
Greater Geelong recorded 18 new Covid cases on Sunday, following 34 on Saturday.
Another 20 cases were reported for the Surf Coast on Sunday, following 12 on Saturday.
On Sunday, there were 16 patients in Geelong hospital with active Covid infections, including four in the intensive care unit.
Victoria reported 1069 new cases on Sunday and two deaths.
It followed 1191 new locally acquired Covid cases and 13 deaths reported on Saturday.