No need to wait on ATAGI, Minister, change definition of 'fully vaccinated' now

Catholic Health Australia is calling on Health Minister Greg Hunt to step up and immediately change Australia's official definition of 'fully vaccinated' from two doses to three. Earlier today, during a television interview, Mr Hunt said he was waiting on for the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to consider changing the definition of fully vaccinated. But CHA Manager of Health Policy Alex Lynch said the federal government could and should make the call now. "It's just misleading for states to be reporting a 'fully vaccinated' rate of 95 per cent-plus when that refers to double dosing which we know is inadequate," Mr Lynch said. "Health authorities are struggling to convince Australians to go out and get their booster and part of this is surely because people feel complacent when they see such impressive headline figures. "A huge contributor to the speed of vaccination last year was people feeling responsibility for getting low rates to climb. We need to put that impetus on society once again. "We now know that COVID-19 vaccinations are losing effectiveness just months after the second dose is received. A truly fully vaccinated community, with three doses for all who are eligible, will help alleviate pressure on our hospitals and start getting us back to normal. "The Minister does not need to wait on further advice from ATAGI and nor should he. Let's move today and start encouraging more people to go out and get their boosters."