Change to Vaccination Interval after COVID Infection

Media release – Kathrine Morgan-Wicks, State Health Commander, 3 May 2022

Had COVID? Updated advice on when to get your next vaccination dose

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has released updated advice regarding the interval required between doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

It is now recommended that all people should wait for three months after they’ve had a confirmed COVID infection before having their next dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The guidance applies to any dose of COVID-19 vaccine and to all people aged five years and older.

The next scheduled dose should then be given as soon as possible after this 3-month period.

This follows evidence that the risk of re-infection with the Omicron variant is very low within three months of a confirmed infection and that by deferring vaccination the level and duration of protection may be improved.

Previous advice was to proceed with your next due dose of vaccine as soon as you had recovered from COVID infection and were no longer displaying symptoms.

This is an important change for many Tasmanians so I urge people to take note.

Due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic we cannot rule out further changes to the national advice and guidance as more evidence comes to light.

I would therefore urge Tasmanians to keep up to date with the latest information and advice regarding COVID-19 as well as making sure they are up to date with their vaccinations.

The most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family and the community is to make sure you are up to date on vaccinations.

Get your booster when you are due, and your winter booster dose if eligible, with one of the many providers across the state to help keep yourself and the Tasmanian community safe from the serious consequences of COVID.

Tasmania continues to be a vaccination leader, with 98% of Tasmanians aged 12 years and above having had two doses of vaccine and nearly 70% of people aged 16 years and above with a booster dose.

For more information go to www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.