The country’s top doctor has warned more COVID waves are on the way, as the government ramps up efforts to increase booster rates before winter.
The latest figures have shown one million people have received 2023 booster doses, with seven in 10 of those being over the age of 60.
A new ad campaign will be rolled out from this weekend in an attempt to get the booster rate higher.
Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said increasing booster levels were critical before predicted new waves of the virus in coming months.
“(The most recent wave) was the first wave that we’ve had more than one circulating virus and that so-called soup of viruses was new and makes it more difficult to predict what is going to happen in the next wave or even the timing of the next wave,” he said in Canberra on Thursday.
“We will see more waves. We’ve got a ripple at the moment, whether that will turn into a wave … it’s difficult to predict at this stage, but certainly there has been an increase in numbers over the last few weeks.”
In a new report on the fourth Omicron wave, which was the latest COVID wave, Professor Kelly said while it was less severe than previous peaks, it lasted for longer.
The last wave lasted 19 weeks and peaked after seven, compared to the last winter wave that went for 12 weeks.
Prof Kelly said vigilance was still needed from the community.
“People are over COVID, I’m certainly over COVID, but it’s still there. We can’t ignore that there is COVID circulating in the community,” he said.
“We’re rapidly moving to a time where we’re actually really targeting those (COVID) messages for those higher-risk individuals, rather than the general population.”
Eligibility will also be expanded for the antiviral COVID treatment Paxlovid under the PBS.
Those aged between 60 and 69 with only one risk factor for severe illness will now be able to get the subsidised treatment from Saturday.
Previously, people in the age bracket needed two risk factors for the treatment under the PBS, with the expanded eligibility allowing 160,000 more people to receive it.
Health Minister Mark Butler said antiviral use had been steadily increasing in recent weeks.
“Prescriptions for the oral antiviral treatments have also been increasing slowly but steadily over the last several weeks by about 40 per cent in total,” he said.
“We know how effective (the oral antivirals) are in preventing severe disease and hospitalisation and death. We’ve seen that through the last few waves over the course of 2022.”
Leave grants of $750 for aged care workers who are forced to isolate due to COVID but do not have leave entitlements will also be extended for eligible staff from April 1.
Previous provisions were due to expire at the end of March.
– AAP
