JOY BLOG

6 Dec 2021

Booster Shots and In-Home Vaccination – FabJab

About vaccination at home

You can get your first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at home. To book an at-home appointment, call the coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398. For an interpreter, press 0.

It may take a little longer for you to get vaccinated depending on wait times for this service. View more information on getting vaccinated at home.

About COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

COVID-19 booster doses are available to anyone aged 18 and over who had their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine more than three months ago. A COVID-19 booster dose helps prevent waning immunity (loss of protection) against COVID-19.

A booster dose increases your protection against:

• infection with the virus that causes COVID-19

• severe disease

• dying from COVID-19.

You are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose if you are 18 years and older, and had your second dose of your primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least three months ago.

ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for:

• people aged 12 to 17 years

• people who are severely immunocompromised and have already had a third dose.

Booster doses are different from third primary doses, which are given to those who are immuno suppressed. View more information about booster doses and third primary doses on the who can get vaccinated page.

When to get a booster

You can book a booster dose if it has been three months or longer since your second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The date you had your second dose of vaccine is on your COVID-19 digital certificate.

How to get a booster vaccine: You can get a COVID-19 booster dose from a Victorian vaccination centre, a GP or a participating pharmacist.

Call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 to book a booster dose appointment. Read more on how to book your vaccine appointment for a booster dose, including information on walk-in options.

Type of vaccine

Most people will receive the Pfizer vaccine as their booster dose. You can safely get this Pfizer booster dose regardless of which COVID-19 vaccine you received for your initial doses.

The Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine can be used as a booster dose if you:

• can’t have an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons

• had two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine previously. Read the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice on the type of vaccine recommended for booster doses. If you’re not sure which booster dose you’re eligible for, talk to your GP.

Common, mild side effects following a booster dose are similar to the side effects following the first two doses. See information about the Pfizer vaccine and rare side effects.

Proof of vaccination

Your vaccination certificate is updated when you receive each dose of vaccine. This includes a third dose if you are severely immunocompromised, or your booster dose. Booster doses will also appear on your Australian Immunisation Record.

Industries required to be vaccinated against COVID-19

The following workers must get their third dose to attend work:

Aged care workers by 1 March 2022
Disability care, quarantine, corrections, emergency services, and food distribution workers by 12 March
Health care workers by 29 March
Or by 12 February if the worker is already eligible for a third dose

Information accurate as of 19 January 2022