Nearly a fifth of Australia’s Covid vaccine stock binned amid warning of fresh wave of cases

Only 40% of eligible Australians have had a fourth dose of Covid vaccine, while 72% have had a third. Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Australia binned almost 20% of its national Covid vaccine supply last month while leading epidemiologists and doctors have warned the country will face another wave of cases in November when existing immunity wanes.

Millions more vaccines are due to arrive in Australia before the end of the year, with the first Omicron-specific version of the Moderna shot becoming publicly available on Monday.