Coronavirus: Australia cuts booster intervals as Omicron causes Christmas travel chaos
- From January, Australia will offer booster shots four months after people had their second Covid-19 vaccine shot, and that will later be cut to three months
- The country reported a record 9,100 new cases, as airlines cancelled flights due to frontline staff being forced to isolate after possible exposure to the virus
From January 4, the country will offer booster shots to every person aged over 18 who had their second shot four months earlier and the interval would be again reduced to three months by the end of the month, said Health Minister Greg Hunt.
“These dates have been set out of an abundance of caution to give Australians early continued protection,” Hunt told reporters in Canberra.
Most states had been pressing the federal government to make more people eligible for boosters to stem the tide of Omicron cases, which reached 9,100 on Friday, up from the previous day’s record of 8,200. While most new cases were previously in New South Wales and Victoria states, neighbouring Queensland and South Australia clocked sharp increases.
Local media reported that thousands of people planning to travel interstate for Christmas the following day had their plans thrown into chaos as airlines cancelled or postponed flights due to frontline staff being forced to isolate after possible exposure to the virus.