COVID-19 and Influenza - Latest Information

For the latest surveillance summary on respiratory surveillance in NSW on COVID-19 and influenza please use this link

COVID-19 vaccines current booster doses

Protection provided by COVID-19 vaccination begins to wane over time. An additional (booster) dose of COVID-19 vaccine helps to strengthen your immune system and improve your long-term protection against severe illness from COVID-19. It does not matter how many doses you have received before.

For more information and to ensure your ongoing protection, please see the COVID-19 vaccine advice and recommendations for 2024.

The vaccines currently approved for use in Australia, for primary vaccination courses and booster vaccination doses, include:

• Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine 5 - <12 years formulation (light blue cap)
• Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine ≥12 years formulation (dark grey cap)
• Moderna monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine, registered for use in people aged 12 years and older.
• Novavax ancestral formulation is no longer available to order, and current supply is close to expiry with last doses expiring Wednesday 31 January 2024. A new Novavax XBB.1.5 formulation (Nuvaxovid) is currently under regulatory review and is expected to be available in time for the 2024 autumn respiratory season.

Who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster?

• Aged 75 years and over – recommended every 6 months
• Aged 65 – 74 years – recommended every 12 months (can consider every 6 months)
• Aged 18 to 64 - With severe immunocompromise: recommended every 12 months (can consider every 6 months). Without severe immunocompromise: consider every 12 months.
• Aged 5 – 17 years - With severe immunocompromise: recommended every 12 months. Without severe immunocompromise: Not recommended.
• Under 5 years - Not recommended
  

COVID-19 booster eligibility checker - Use this tool to determine whether you are eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

Please note: The primary course advice has also been updated.

Clinical recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines can be found in the COVID-19 chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook (the Handbook).

The Handbook has information about COVID-19, vaccines and recommendations for vaccination.

• COVID-19 | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au)
• ATAGI statement on the administration of COVID-19 vaccines in 2024

Where can I get my COVID-19 booster?

Speak to your GP or pharmacist, or look up available providers near you by clicking here: Find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you | healthdirect

2024 Influenza Vaccines

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free influenza vaccines to people most at risk of complications from influenza. Influenza vaccines can be administered on the same day as any COVID-19 vaccine.

ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2024

When should I get the influenza vaccine?

It is advised to receive the annual influenza vaccine before the influenza season, which is typically between June and September in Australia. However, you can receive your vaccination as soon as it is available from your Immunisation Provider (usually from mid-April for protection during the peak of flu season).

For pregnant women, influenza vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy, it is recommended for every pregnancy. It is never too late to get the influenza vaccine.

Who is eligible for the free influenza vaccine?

Free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza:

Free influenza vaccines under the NIP, are available for:

• children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
• pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
• First Nations people aged 6 months and over
• people aged 65 years and over
• people aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of severe influenza and its complications.

2024 seasonal influenza vaccination information for immunisation providers.

ATAGI statement on the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines in 2024.

2024 influenza vaccination – program advice for health professionals

2024 influenza vaccination – consumer fact sheet.

Immunisation History

For information on how to add your COVID-19 and influenza immunisation history to a digital wallet please click here.

For information on how to get your full immunisation history statement and get proof of your vaccinations, please click here. You can also do this for your child.

Sources:

1. Government of New South Wales, Department of Health. NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report - fortnight ending 13 January 2024. Available at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/...
2. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. ATAGI recommendations on the use of Moderna and Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 COVID vaccines. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/news... (
3. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. National Immunisation Program Schedule. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/topi...
4. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. AIVC Recommendations for the Composition of Influenza Vaccines for Australia in 2024. Available at: https://www.tga.gov.au/resourc...
5. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. COVID-19 booster vaccine advice. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/our-...

HealthPathways

HealthPathways provides GPs and other primary health clinicians access to the latest COVID-19 information via an online health information portal to be used at the point of care.

As HealthPathways is a dynamic collaboration between local primary health care clinicians and the Local Health Districts there are separate portals for both the Hunter New England and Central Coast regions.

HealthPathways is NOT designed to be used by patients or general community members and as such a username and password are required to use the site. Clinicians without access can request password details by contacting us.

PatientInfo portals

Patientinfo is a companion health information portal to HealthPathways and links directly to the patient health information advice within the HealthPathways sites. No passwords are required to access the sites and so the links can be provided to patients to help them understand and manage their health conditions. As it is sourced from HealthPathways clinicians can be confident the advice is reliable, evidence based and up to date.