If it’s been 6 months or longer since your last COVID-19 vaccination (primary course or previous booster dose), you may consider getting your next booster dose for additional protection and prevention from severe illness from COVID. If you have were infected with COVID and did not recently receive a booster dose, you should also consider getting a booster vaccination.

The booster dose is highly recommended for any adult aged 65 years and over, and adult who is 18 years and over with any complex medical conditions, disability or special health needs. Adults who are 18 years and over with no high-risk factors may also consider getting a booster dose, particularly for anyone who cares for vulnerable people, or work in high-risk environments (e.g. healthcare and aged-care workers, hospitality workers, teachers, etc).

ATAGI 2023 Booster Advice

Over time you may have a decreased immune response to your previous COVID-19 vaccination, which could increase your risk of severe illness if infected or reinfected with COVID-19. If it has been longer than 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccination, you may not have received the latest bivalent vaccine, which will provide additional protection against the Omicron variants of the virus. A booster dose will help maximise your immune response as much as possible.

No, the flu vaccinaton only protects you against the influenza virus and does not offer protection against COVID-19.

Yes, you can now be given the flu vaccination and a COVID-19 booster vaccination on the same day. Speak with your pharmacist if this is right for you or if you have any questions about getting both vaccines at once.

Any person aged 5 years or older can receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Australia. Vaccination is also recommended for children aged between 6 months to under 5 years who are immunocompromised or have complex medical conditions.

The COVID-19 vaccine can help prevent people from getting severely ill from COVID-19. These vaccines are designed to train your immune system to recognise and fight to rid the virus from your body before it can make you very ill. By staying up to date with all vaccinations is recommended, this can help your body’s immune system to maximise protection over time.

There are strict precautions in place to help ensure the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines. Various global and national regulatory agencies, such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) closely monitors any reported side effects from the vaccine to investigate any safety issues.

The TGA reassures COVID-19 vaccines in Australia are safe and that most side effects are mild and go away within a couple of days. Commonly reported side effects from COVID-19 vaccines may include headache, aches and pains, fever, and tenderness at the site of injection.

Up-to-date information regarding vaccine safety and vaccine recommendations can be found here https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines/our-vaccines/safety-side-effects

Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you have concerns about side-effects of COVID-19 vaccines or which vaccine is most appropriate for you.

Researchers and government departments like Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration have been dedicated to developing and rigorously testing COVID-19 vaccines without compromising safety and effectiveness. This global collaboration has meant the COVID-19 vaccines could move through all the regular stages of vaccine development and implementation simultaneously rather than one after another. [vii]

The participating WholeLife pharmacies administer a variety of COVID-19 vaccines and you can view availability by selecting your local store from the list above. If you have questions relating to your suitability for this vaccine, please consult with your doctor.

WholeLife pharmacists administering COVID-19 vaccinations have completed extensive training in administering vaccinations in accordance with State and Territory legislation and standards. Additionally, our pharmacists have also completed specific training for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended for people with chronic health conditions, as it increase your risk of severe COVID-19 or illness. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety of the COVID-19 with your health condition, speak with our pharmacists or your doctor to discuss the best option for you.

ATAGI recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 years and over with the primary vaccination course. Vaccination is also recommended for children between 6 months to < 5 years who are immunocompromised, have complex and/or multiple health conditions or disability that increases their risk of severe COVID-19. Booster vaccine doses is only recommended for children aged 5-17 years who have complex and/or multiple health conditions or disability. Speak with our pharmacists or your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccination for your child.

International studies and vaccine trials have shown the COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy and does not increase the chances of pregnancy complications. It is also safe to continue breastfeeding before and after receiving your vaccination. Talk to your pharmacist or GP if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy and have any questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination.

No. The COVID-19 vaccine is currently free to everyone in Australia.

COVID-19 (aka coronavirus disease 2019) is an infectious disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2. It is very contagious and still is declared as an active pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to those of a cold or flu. They include:

• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Difficulty breathing

Some people may have very mild symptoms and, as such, may not associate their symptoms with COVID-19. However, they can still pass on the virus to other vulnerable people.

COVID-19 is most likely spread from person to person contact. This includes:

• Direct close contact with a person who is infectious, or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appeared
• Close contact with a person who has a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes
• Touching objects or surfaces such as door handles or tables, that are contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with COVID-19, and then touching your mouth or face.

The initial symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are often very similar. They both cause fever and similar respiratory symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. See below for a comparative guide. While these are similar, it has been found the COVID-19 has resulted in more severe and critical cases than the flu.

The speed of transmission also differs between COVID-19 and the flu. The flu has a shorter incubation period (the time from infection to appearance of symptoms) of 2 days. Whereas COVID-19 has a longer incubation period, currently estimated to be between 2-14 days to develop symptoms according to the CDC. This means that the flu can spread faster the COVID-19.

Both viruses are transmitted the same way, by sneezing or coughing, or by contact with hands, surfaces or objectives that are contaminated by the virus. Therefore, it is important that you follow good hand hygiene, good respiratory etiquette and good household cleaning behaviours.

Most people infected with COVID-19 experience mild or moderate symptoms such as a fever or cough. However, COVID-19 can affect some people more severely with respiratory conditions like pneumonia or affect other parks of the body. Most people recover completely.

Some people may experience or develop post-covid conditions known as “Long COVID”. If you have any questions or concerns about Long COVID, speak with your pharmacist or doctor to discuss your symptoms and appropriate management.

The infection period varies between people and can be dependent on their previous health status. Mild symptoms in an otherwise healthy person may only last a few days whereas for an individual with existing health issues such as a respiratory condition, recovery could take weeks. Severe cases can be fatal.

You may at risk of catching COVID-19 if you have been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19.

People who are most at risk of serious infection from COVID-19 include:

• People aged 70 years or over
• People with chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems (such as cancer)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Pregnant women

The key to protecting yourself from getting or spreading COVID-19 to other is to avoid contact if you are COVID-19 positive or with someone who has been infected. Staying at home when sick is the best way to keep any viral spread contained until you feel better with no symptoms, as well as other preventive measures:

• Good hygiene – wash your hands regularly with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and clean or disinfect any surfaces you use often (benchtops or door handles)
• Wear a mask – while this is no longer mandated in most public places, it can help stop droplets from spreading to people when talking, coughing, or sneezing.
• Social or physical distancing – when out public, especially in crowded areas, keeping 1.5 metres from other people helps reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Physical distancing also includes not shaking hands, hugging or kissing those who are infected with the virus.
• Getting vaccinated – vaccines can help reduce the risk from becoming severe ill if infected with COVID-19