COVID booster approval a welcome step

Today’s decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approving booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is welcome, but shows the urgent need for Queenslanders to get fully immunised before the borders open.

“After such a difficult start to our COVID vaccine program it’s great to see we are finally in a proactive phase and that vulnerable people might soon be able to get a booster shot of Pfizer,” AMA Queensland President Professor Chris Perry said today.

“International evidence shows that a booster shot can enhance the high degree of protection already given by a double dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“But our vaccination rates for first and second jabs in our most vulnerable communities are already lagging in Queensland.

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are incredibly vulnerable. They already have high burdens of chronic disease. If COVID gets into these communities, we will see our elders die.

“COVID-19 kills the elderly, and the unvaccinated.

“In Yarrabah, only 24.5 per cent are fully vaccinated. In Cherbourg, only 25.7 per cent have had both jabs. In Logan, only 52 per cent are fully vaccinated.

“While today’s announcement takes us one step closer to the roll out of a COVID-19 vaccine booster program, we need to get everyone vaccinated first.

“There’s really only a handful of days left now for Queenslanders to have their first COVID-19 vaccine to be fully protected in time for the dates set out in our State Government’s COVID Vaccine Plan.

“We need every Queenslander to #stepupforthejab today so we can unite families, keep communities safe and protect our Indigenous elders.”