THIRD BOOSTER VACCINES ‘LIKELY’

A THIRD booster jab of Pfizer or AstraZeneca could be on the horizon to prevent breakthrough infections, Public Health director Mark Veitch says.

Dr Veitch shared his thoughts on a third vaccine for Tasmanians at the Parliamentary Budget Estimates hearing on Monday after Greens member Rosalie Woodruff asked health sector leaders how they could tackle the issue of waning immunity against Covid-19.

“There is some evidence that in some settings breakthrough infections are beginning to occur,” Dr Veitch said.

“I think it is likely that in the first instance our health authorities will be recommending a booster vaccination.”

He said that recommendation could come “in coming months”.

Dr Veitch believed the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation would provide clarity on third booster shots as more information and data was gathered from various countries.

Dr Woodruff said peerreviewed literature from countries such as the UK and Israel indicated vaccine efficacy was deteriorating over time in countries which had received their vaccines sooner than Australia.

Deputy Labor Leader Anita

Dow asked the government how many cases or deaths per day Tasmania could expect if the Delta variant entered the state.

Dr Veitch said the number of cases would depend on the number of vaccinated Tasmanians. He said the UK was getting about 33,000 cases a day, or 40 cases per 100,000 people each day. Dr Veitch estimated in a place the size of Tasmania, the rate would amount to 200 cases per day.

Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the Delta variant of Covid-19 “will hit our shores at some point in time”.

“The best way to protect ourselves against very serious health consequences and also protect our hospital systems is to get vaccinated,” he said.

Mr Rockliff recently said all health care workers would be required to be vaccinated.

Department of Health secretary Kathrine MorganWicks said the government was working with stakeholders, including unions, this week to clearly define which health care workers would be affected.

She said individuals with exemptions who “don’t have the luxury of being able to get the vaccine” would not be impacted, but those who chose not to get the jab could be redeployed or terminated from employment.

“We will work with every single individual,” Ms Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said.