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Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“Unfortunately[for] some people that have immune systems that don’t work as well as the general population,those vaccines may not lead to that protection,” Professor Kelly said on Friday.

“So the evidence is now clear that people in those categories of immune-compromised should receive a third dose. That should happen at a period after the second dose,between two and six months after that time of the second dose.”

Australians who had Pfizer or Moderna for their first two doses have been urged by the government to stay with those vaccines for their third dose,andswitch if they had AstraZeneca.

But Professor Kelly emphasised that was not a reflection on the quality of AstraZeneca,which will still be used if the others are not available or if a person has had a very rare reaction to the mRNA vaccines. “It is a good vaccine,” he said of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Health Minister Greg Hunt also announced on Friday that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation would provide advice before the end of October on whether boosters are required for the general population.

That decision will also include people who have mildly or moderately compromised immune systems.

Australia has secured 151 million Pfizer,Novavax and Moderna vaccines. “There’s enough vaccine for every Australian to have first and second doses,and there’s enough vaccine for every Australian as they come due for boosters,” Mr Hunt said.

He again urged Pfizer toapply for approval of its vaccine for use by 5 to 11-year-olds,as ithas done in the United States,saying any application from the company would be considered as a priority. Once it had been approved and recommended for use by ATAGI,Mr Hunt said,“we can commence immediately” with a rollout.

Professor Kelly expressed hope that three doses are all that will be required to give Australians long-term protection from COVID-19,but the pandemic has not gone on long enough for experts to be sure.

He also opened a path for fully vaccinated health workers who come into contact with coronavirus cases to keep working rather than being forced into isolation.

“Ultimately,it will be a decision of the healthcare setting and their local public health unit to decide on the actual nature of that,” Professor Kelly said of the plan,which has been agreed by all states and territories.

“Health care settings are more likely to encounter people with COVID-19 and thus have higher rates of potential exposure for workers,” the federal Health Department said in a statement.

“Previous requirements to furlough workers in health care settings following exposure to COVID-19 could result in significant impacts on health system capacity and place a significant strain on the delivery of health services.”

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