As a part of preventive measures and limiting new outbreaks, Australian authorities have decided to vaccinate the most vulnerable population of the country from April 4 with the fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

The decision came after the current surge in cases due to the highly transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2 and concerns over flu viruses co-circulating with coronavirus during the winter. The second booster dose (fourth COVID-19 vaccine shot) would be given to people above 65 years who received their first booster dose a minimum of four months ago, Indigenous Australians aged over 50, and to the disabled or severely immunocompromised people.

Around 95% of Australians above 16 have been administered at least two vaccine doses and 67% have received the first booster shot. This has helped Australia fight the pandemic in a better way with much lower deaths being reported due to COVID -19 compared to other countries. (Reuters, March 25, 2022)