COVID-19 Vaccine

⚠️ COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE 

**The Community Vaccination Hub in Norlane is moving. This site will close on Saturday 21 May and re-open at the Barwon Health Vaccination Centre on Reynold's Road on Wednesday 25 May.

The Community Vaccination Hub is currently taking walk-ins. Announcements about walk-in availability are published on the Barwon Health Facebook page.

Interval change: ATAGI Advice on mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose intervals
The recommended dose interval for the 2 doses of the primary course of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines was previously:

3 to 6 weeks for Comirnaty (Pfizer)
4 to 6 weeks for Spikevax (Moderna).
ATAGI now recommends the dose interval between primary doses should be extended to 8 weeks.

The extended dose interval of 8 weeks has been shown to improve the immune response to vaccination and therefore may improve effectiveness. A longer dose interval may also reduce the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis. The longer dose interval is particularly recommended for groups at higher risk of this side effect (those under the age of 40 years).

The dose interval can be reduced (to a minimum of 3 weeks for Pfizer or 4 weeks for Moderna) for people at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (including older adults and people with underlying medical conditions), in an outbreak setting, or prior to international travel.

The risk of myocarditis and pericarditis following Nuvaxovid (Novavax) vaccine is unknown.

Providers can consider extending the interval between 2 primary doses of Novavax to 8 weeks (from a minimum of 3 weeks) to potentially improve effectiveness and reduce any potential risk of myocarditis and pericarditis.

Click here for more information.

Winter doses doses now available to eligible people at the Community Vaccination Hub:

A winter booster dose or fourth COVID-19 dose will help maintain protection against COVID-19 and prevent waning immunity.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has approved a winter booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine to increase vaccine protection before winter for selected cohorts at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and who have received their primary vaccination and third dose.

These groups are:

• adults aged 65 years and older
• residents of aged care or disability care facilities
• people aged 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised (as defined in the  ATAGI statement on the use of a 3rd primary dose of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait lander people aged 50 years and older.

Winter doses or fourth doses are available via bookings or walk-ins for those eligible. Eligible people will be able to receive their winter dose from four months after receiving their third dose, or from four months after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, if infection has occurred since the person’s third dose.

Booster doses now available:

COVID-19 booster doses are now available at the Community Vaccination Hub in Norlane to anyone aged 16 and over who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than four months ago.

A COVID-19 booster or third dose helps prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19. Eligible people will receive the Pfizer vaccine as their booster dose. They can safely get this Pfizer booster dose regardless of which COVID-19 vaccine they received for their initial doses.

People can also get a booster dose if they have completed an initial vaccination course overseas with a COVID-19 vaccine recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11:

Bookings have opened via the state government booking portal for children aged 5 to 11 years. To make a booking call 1800 675 398. Bookings and walk-ins available for children aged 5-11 years.

For children and adults with special needs please contact Barwon Health's Disability Liaison Office who can assist you with your child's vaccination options on 0434 856 014 or [email protected]