Category: booster mandate

Australia Mandates COVID-19 Booster Shots for Disability Sector

Australian officials are requiring disability support workers to get a third dose of an approved COVID-19 shot or risk losing their jobs. Previously, the recommendation was two vaccine doses for disability workers, but due to new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), this has been updated to include the third or…


Changing ‘Fully Vaccinated’ Definition to 3 Jabs Will Sow Confusion, Distrust: Vaccine Developer

The decision to change the definition of fully vaccinated from two to three jabs could create confusion if Australian state governments decide to expand current booster mandates, according to vaccine developer Nikolai Petrovsky. On Feb. 10, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), announced that individuals would only be considered “fully vaccinated” or “up-to-date” if…


More Vaccines For Australians To Be ‘Up To Date’ Possible, ATAGI

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) cannot rule out four or five doses for COVID-19 vaccines for Australians to be “up to date.” The chair for ATAGI, Nigel Crawford said that his organisation will continue to monitor data from other countries administering four doses at the senate hearing on Feb. 16. ATAGI announced…


Australian Health Body Says 4 to 5 Jabs May Be Needed to Remain ‘Fully Vaccinated’

The head of Australia’s technical advisory body to the health minister has not ruled out changing the definition of what constitutes being fully vaccinated or “up to date” to four or five jabs. The chair for the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), Nigel Crawford said that his organisation will continue to monitor data from…


Vic Chief Health Officer Denies Involvement in Push to Mandate Boosters

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has denied that he was involved in the state premier’s push to mandate the third vaccine at the public hearing of the Pandemic Declaration Accountability and Oversight Committee on Jan. 31. The committee, which was created as part of the controversial pandemic bill that passed parliament on Dec. 2,…


Over 1,500 Sign Petition to Abolish Student-Athlete COVID-19 Booster Mandate

Athletes at Arizona State University are protesting a COVID-19 vaccine booster mandate for students who want to participate in away games. More than 1,700 people have signed an online petition titled “FREEDOM OF CHOICE: ASU STUDENT-ATHLETE COVID-19 BOOSTER PRACTICE” that calls on the university to give student-athletes the option to choose whether to receive the…


Tasmania Shortens Booster Intervals to Three Months

The Tasmanian Government has brought the interval forward for booster shots from four months to three months, following advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI). The Tasmanian Minister for Health, Jeremy Rockliff, said that this change will take effect from Feb. 1 and will mean that about 66,000 more Tasmanians will become…


NSW Govt Committed to Getting Students Back to School on Day 1

New South Wales (NSW) Premier Dominic Perrottet said the millions of rapid antigen tests (RATs) arriving over the week will be crucial to ensuring schools open the first day of the term. “It is incredibly important to get schools back on day one,” Perrottet told reporters on Tuesday. “That is the commitment of this government…


Meta Mandates Booster Shots, Extends Return-to-Office Date for Employees

Meta, formerly Facebook, has extended its return-to-office date to March 28 amid a surge of Omicron-related infection cases, with an additional mandatory booster shot requirement for those who plan to come back to the office. Meta has flip-flopped on its office-return dates and requirements over the past two years with a series of inconsistent messages….


‘Only Three Doses Protects You From COVID-19’, Urges Victorian Premier

The Victorian government has urged eligible Victorians to get their booster shots as the state introduces new pandemic restrictions and vaccine mandates on Jan. 10 Night clubs, pubs and bars are set to close from Jan. 12 at 11.59 p.m. onwards, although dancefloors at wedding venues will stay open. The Andrews government also strongly recommended…