You are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose if:
- you are 18 years and older, and
- have had your second dose of your primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least 6 months ago.
Booster doses are not mandatory, however they are recommended to maintain immunity against COVID-19.
Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide very good protection, especially against severe disease.
A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first dose is even stronger and longer lasting, and should help prevent spread of the virus.
A booster dose increases your protection against:
- infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
- severe disease
- dying from COVID-19.
A booster dose will continue to protect you, your loved ones and your community against COVID-19.
Booster doses will be free for everyone.
Booster doses are available to everyone 18 years and over who have had both doses of their primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago.
ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for:
- people aged 12 to 17 years
- people who are severely immunocompromised and have already had a third dose.
Read ATAGI’s advice on COVID-19 booster doses.
The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and recommended by ATAGI as a COVID-19 booster dose.
You can have the Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose regardless of which vaccine you had for your first 2 doses.
You can also receive the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine if you:
- can’t have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons
- had 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine previously.
Read ATAGI’s advice on the type of vaccine recommended for booster doses.
| Criteria | Pfizer | Moderna | AstraZeneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved aged group | 12+ | 12+ | 18+ |
| Primary course | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Third dose for immunocompromised people | Yes | Yes | Not preferred[1] |
| Booster dose | Yes | No[2] | Not preferred[1] |
|
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You can book a booster dose if it has been 6 months or longer since your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The date you had your second dose of vaccine is on your COVID-19 digital certificate.
Common, mild side effects following a booster dose look similar to the side effects following the first 2 doses.
See information about the Pfizer vaccine and rare side effects.
There is limited data on serious side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis following a Pfizer booster dose.
Evidence from Israel suggests that myocarditis and pericarditis are not more common after the booster dose, compared with the second dose.
This side effect is being monitored closely.
ATAGI will continue to review the risk-benefit equation on booster doses.
Information courtesy of The Australian Government Department of Health