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Australia now has the new COVID-19 Monovalent
Omicron XBB.15 vaccines available

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The Health Government together with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have given new advice on XBB1.5 for use as both initial and booster shots in people 5 years and older (age varies depending on brand of vaccine).1

 

Did you know that COVID-19 vaccines come in 2 types:

  1. Monovalent XBB.1.5 which targets the current Omicron subvariants

  2. Bivalent which protects against earlier Omicron subvariants and the original COVID-19 strain.

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All COVID-19 vaccines offer strong protection against severe disease, but the monovalent XBB1.5 provides a slight increase in protection against the current strain and is preferred.2

Recommendations for COVID-19 2023 booster:

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  • Individuals 65 years or older are advised to get a 2023 COVID-19 booster

  • Individuals aged 18 to 64 who are severely immunocompromise should consider a 2023 booster

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A second 2023 booster is recommended if 6 months have passed since your last dose and you are:

  • 75 years or older

  • A younger adult with risk factors for serious illness

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Unvaccinated individuals for 2023 doses are urged to get vaccinated promptly. For those who have already received their 2023 doses, ATAGI does not advise revaccination with monovalent XBB.1.5.

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Table obtained from the ATAGI website.3

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*XBB.1.5-containing vaccine preferred for all doses. For eligible children aged 6 months to 4 years, use Pfizer Original 6 month - <5 year formulation (maroon cap) as the only available formulation for this age group. Timing: 2023 vaccine doses should be given from 6 months after a person’s last dose and can be given in early 2024, pending updated advice from ATAGI.

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#Includes those with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness or those with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities which increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19.

 

^For details, refer to the ATAGI recommendations on the use of a third primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised.

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