Australia's vaccine advisory body has approved COVID-19 booster shots for teenagers aged 16 and 17.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) provided new advice to the federal government that a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine was safe and effective for teenagers.
In a statement, ATAGI said Pfizer's vaccine was the only shot registered for use as a booster in this age group, and getting the additional dose was highly recommended.
"ATAGI supports the extension of booster dose recommendations to include individuals aged 16-17 years, as an extension of previous booster recommendations for all those aged 18 years and over," the statement said.
"This recommendation is based on a review of COVID-19 epidemiology, disease burden, health benefits directly to individuals and indirectly to the community, and safety considerations in this age group.
"It is anticipated that booster doses for 16-17-year-olds will have some effect on reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 both directly by preventing infection in these individuals and potentially via a smaller effect in reducing onward transmission from infected individuals who are vaccinated."
Like adults, 16 and 17-year-olds will be eligible to get their booster three months after their second dose.
The new advice also covers teenagers who were 15 when they received their second dose but are now 16.
Health Minister Greg Hunt welcomed the news.
"I am pleased that ATAGI has worked quickly to recommend the booster rollout be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds, after the Pfizer COVID-19 booster was approved by the TGA for use in this age group on 28 January," he said.
About 90 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 60 per cent are due to receive a booster this week.
Eligible teenagers can get their booster from today, but that is subject to GPs and pharmacists being ready to administer them.
The federal government has repeatedly insisted there are enough vaccines for every eligible Australian.
ATAGI said COVID-19 remained a predominantly mild disease in teenagers between 16 and 17.
Official figures show that 3.2 per cent of Australian cases in the age group required hospitalisation between January and November last year.
Mr Hunt said ATAGI was in the very early stages of considering boosters for 12-to-15-year-olds.
"What we do is we work with the sponsors, the vaccine manufacturers, to encourage them to complete their safety trials and then submit at earliest possible date," Mr Hunt said.
"At this stage, we don't have a complete submission in relation to that group — that is something which Pfizer is looking at around the world."
The immunisation body is also considering whether to redefine "fully vaccinated" to require booster shots.
Mr Hunt said the decision would be made within the next fortnight, but that he expected they would change the definition.
