2023 Covid-19 Booster

• ATAGI recommends a 2023 COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for adults in the following groups, if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received:
  • All adults aged 65 years and over
  • Adults aged 18-64 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
• ATAGI advises the following groups should consider a 2023 booster dose if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer, and regardless of the number of prior doses received, based on an individual risk benefit assessment with their immunisation provider.
  • All Adults aged 18-64 years without risk factors for severe COVID-19
  • Children and adolescents aged 5-17 years who have medical comorbidities that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, or disability with significant or complex health needs.
• ATAGI advises that a booster dose is not recommended at this time for children and adolescents aged under the age of 18 who do not have any risk factors for severe COVID-19.

Further information is also available on the ATAGI statement.

Paediatric Moderna ( 6 Months – 5 years)

Milsons Point Medical Centre is proud to announce that will be providing Paediatric Moderna from the 8th of September. 

There is very limited supply and is only available for individuals in the following categories: 

• ATAGI recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to <5 years with severe immunocompromise, disability, and those who have complex and/or multiple health conditions which increase the risk of severe COVID-19. 

  These include children with the following or similar conditions:

  • Severe primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including those undergoing treatment for cancer, or on immunosuppressive treatments as listed in the ATAGI advice on 3rd primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised; 
  • Bone marrow or stem cell transplant, or chimeric antigen T-cell (CAR-T) therapy;
  • Complex congenital cardiac disease;
  • Structural airway anomalies or chronic lung disease;
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus;
  • Chronic neurological or neuromuscular conditions; or
  • A disability that requires frequent assistance with activities of daily living, such as severe cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)

  Two primary doses are recommended with an 8 week interval between each dose. 

  Those with severe immunocompromise require three primary doses with an 8 week interval between each dose.

  Appointments will be made available on the 5th of September at 9am

If you have not been to Milsons Point Medical Centre before, please bring supporting documents of the patients eligibility and book in with a Doctor at our centre prior to the Covid-19 vaccine appointment.  

Further information is also available on the ATAGI statement.

Paediatric Pfizer (5-11 Years)

You can now book for FIRST and SECOND doses (8 weeks apart) Paediatric Pfizer (5-11 yrs)  with us easily ONLINE through our website or via HotDoc app. Please make sure that you book for BOTH FIRST and SECOND doses.

Your child will require 2 doses, 8 weeks apart (but this can be brought forward to 3 weeks in specific circumstances). More detailed information about the vaccine can be found in the ATAGI recommendation.

If your child is aged 11 years and has the paediatric formulation for their first dose, and then turns 12 years of age before their second dose, they should have the adult Pfizer formulation as their second dose.

The Pfizer paediatric vaccine can be co-administered with other vaccines.

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Winter Dose ( Second Booster) 

From the 11th of July the following ATAGI recommendation will be in place.:

A 4th dose is recommended 3 months after your booster dose if you are

1. Adults aged 50 years and older 
2. Residents of aged care or disability care facilities 
3. People aged 16 years and older with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness; or with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities which increase risk of poor outcome.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and older 

ATATGI has also advised that people aged 30 to 49 can receive a 4th dose, however the benefit for people in this age group is less certain.

The additional  booster is recommended from 3 months or longer from your previous Covid-19 vaccination, or 3 months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if the infection occurred since the persons first COVID-19 Booster dose .

At Milsons Point Medical Centre we strictly follow ATAGI advice, meaning If you are outside of these criteria we can not provide this service for you. If you have an eligible condition please book in with your doctor to discuss. 

*Please note that going overseas is not a criteria for the fourth dose

Further information is also available on the ATAGI Statement

BOOSTER (Pfizer and Moderna Bivalent)

If you are 16 and over you can book for a BOOSTER Dose with us easily ONLINE through our website or via HotDoc app. Please book a COVID vaccine booster type appointment.

 Booster shots are now available to all fully vaccinated people aged 16 years and older, three months or more from their second COVID-19 dose.

Pfizer and Moderna

Pfizer and Moderna are the preferred Booster vaccine

For 16-18 years Pfizer is the only approved Booster Vaccine

For 18+ Pfizer or Moderna can be used as a booster 

AstraZeneca 

AstraZeneca is no longer recommended as a booster – even if you have previously had AstraZeneca.

The only reason for the use of AstraZeneca as a Booster is if you have has a medical contraindication to the mRNA vaccine.

Further information is also available on the ATAGI statement.

DOSE 3

Please note that this is specifically for patients who have conditions which could have impaired their response to the first and second dose of the COVID Vaccine. BOOSTER DOSE (as explained above) is different to what is referred to as DOSE 3. 

The Commonwealth Government has advised that people with impaired immune function or who are taking medications that impair immunity should have a THIRD dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to complete their primary course.

An mRNA vaccine (Pfizer) is preferred to Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) for this 3rd dose. AstraZeneca can be used for the 3rd dose for individuals who have received AstraZeneca for their first 2 doses if there are no contraindications or precautions for use, or if a significant adverse reaction has occurred after a previous mRNA vaccine dose which contraindicates further doses of mRNA vaccine (e.g., anaphylaxis, myocarditis).

 The recommended interval for the 3rd dose is 2 to 6 months after the 2nd dose of vaccine (vs BOOSTER dose which is to be received 6 months or more after the 2nd dose). A minimum interval of 4 weeks may be considered in exceptional circumstances (e.g., anticipated intensification of immunosuppression; outbreaks).

You can book for a third dose with us easily ONLINE through our website or via HotDoc app. Please book a COVID vaccine dose THREE type appointment.

 Immunocompromising conditions and therapies for which a 3rd primary dose is recommended:

• Active haematological malignancy
• Non-haematological malignancy with current active treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy, but excluding immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors
• Solid organ transplant with immunosuppressive therapy
• Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy within 2 years of transplantation.
  • These patients require revaccination with 3 additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine, irrespective of doses given prior to transplantation, commencing generally ≥3-6 months after their transplant after discussion with their treating specialist.
  • Those beyond 2 years from transplant should discuss with their treating specialist about the need for a 3rd dose.
• Immunosuppressive therapies including:
  • High dose corticosteroid treatment equivalent to >20mg/day of prednisone for ≥14 days in a month, or pulse corticosteroid therapy.
  • Multiple immunosuppressants where the cumulative effect is considered to be severely immunosuppressive.
  • Selected conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDS):
    • including mycophenolate, methotrexate (>0.4 mg/kg/week), leflunomide, azathioprine (>3mg/kg/day), 6-mercaptopurine (>1.5 mg/kg/day), alkylating agents (e.g. cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil), and systemic calcineurin inhibitors (e.g. cyclosporin, tacrolimus)
    • excluding hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine when used as monotherapy
  • Biologic and targeted therapies anticipated to reduce the immune response to COVID-19 vaccine:
    • including B cell depleting agents (e.g. anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, BTK inhibitors, fingolimod), anti-CD52 monoclonal antibodies (alemtuzumab), anti-complement antibodies (e.g. eculizumab), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and abatacept
    • excluding agents with likely minimal effect on vaccine response such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, anti-integrins, anti-TNF-α, anti-IL1, anti-IL6, anti-IL17, anti-IL4 and anti-IL23 antibodies.
• Primary immunodeficiency including combined immunodeficiency and syndromes, major antibody deficiency (e.g., common variable immune deficiency (CVID) or agammaglobulinemia), defects of innate immunity (including phagocytic cells), defects of immune regulation, complement deficiencies and phenocopies of primary immunodeficiencies.
• Advanced or untreated HIV with CD4 counts <250/μL or those with a higher CD4 count unable to be established on effective antiretroviral therapy
  • a 3rd primary dose is not required for people living with HIV, receiving ART with CD4 counts ≥250/μL
• Long term haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis