Vaccine doses

To receive the best protection against serious illness from COVID-19, you should stay up to date with all vaccination doses recommended for your age. 

As Australia moves into winter, an additional booster dose, or ‘fourth dose’, is recommended for people aged 50 years and older. People aged 30 to 49 years old can also receive a fourth dose if they choose.

The additional booster dose will be a fifth dose for people who are severely immunocompromised, have an underlying health condition or disability. 

Boosters

It is recommended you have the Pfizer vaccine as a booster if you are:

• 12 to 15 years old, and:
  • are severely immunocompromised, or
  • have a disability with significant or complex health needs, or
  • have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19
• 16 or 17 years old.

Boosters for people aged 18 years and older

If you are aged 18 years or older, you can have the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a booster dose regardless of which vaccine you had for your first 2 doses.

You can also receive the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine as a booster dose if you:

• can’t have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons
• had 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine previously

• Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is not registered for use as a booster dose, however it can be used as a booster dose in an individual aged 18 or older if no other COVID-19 vaccine brand is suitable for that individual.

Find out more about booster doses and third doses for people with severe immunocompromise.

Fourth dose

You should get another COVID-19 booster dose, also referred to as a ‘fourth dose’, if you have had your initial booster dose 3 months ago and you are:

• 50 years or older
• a resident of an aged care or disability care facility
• severely immunocompromised
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and aged 50 years and older
• 16 years or older with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness
• 16 years or older with a disability..

A fourth dose is also available to people aged 30 to 49 years old if they choose.

People who had COVID-19 after their first booster should wait at least 3 months before having a winter dose.

Find out more about booster doses, winter doses and third doses for people with severe immunocompromise.