COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Vaccinations

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Frequently Asked Questions

All patients over the age of 18 are now eligible for vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

From the 30th of August, all patients over 16 are eligible for vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, we recommend booking an appointment with your regular GP to discuss.

To book an appointment to receive your COVID-19 vaccination at Main Street Medical, give us a call on 03 9736 3837 and our friendly receptionists will book you into the next available time-slot that suits you.

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is administered as two doses delivered 12 weeks apart.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is administered as two doses delivered 3-6 weeks apart.

If you have any questions regarding the administration of either vaccination, we recommend booking an appointment with your regular GP to discuss.

The Australian Government has recommended a gap of one week between the Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. It does not matter which vaccine is given first.

The COVID-19 vaccine is provided and administered at no cost to all eligible Medicare card holders.

Yes, both COVID-19 vaccines have been carefully assessed by the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) and have been approved for use in Australia.

If you have any further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, we recommend booking an appointment to discuss with your regular GP.

Booster Shots – Frequently Asked Questions

You are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose if:

  • you are 16 years and older, and
  • have had your second dose of your primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least 3 months ago.

Booster doses are not mandatory, however they are recommended to maintain immunity against COVID-19.

Two doses of COVID-19 vaccine provide very good protection, especially against severe disease.

A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first dose is even stronger and longer lasting, and should help prevent spread of the virus.

A booster dose increases your protection against:

  • infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
  • severe disease
  • dying from COVID-19.

A booster dose will continue to protect you, your loved ones and your community against COVID-19.

Booster doses will be free for everyone.

Booster doses are available to everyone 16 years and over who have had both doses of their primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 3 months ago.

ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for:

  • people aged 5 to 15 years
  • people who are severely immunocompromised and have already had a third dose.

Read ATAGI’s advice on COVID-19 booster doses.

The Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine is approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and recommended by ATAGI as a COVID-19 booster dose.

You can have the Pfizer vaccine as a booster dose regardless of which vaccine you had for your first 2 doses.

You can also receive the Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) vaccine if you:

  • can’t have the Pfizer vaccine for medical reasons
  • had 2 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine previously.

Read ATAGI’s advice on the type of vaccine recommended for booster doses.

Criteria Pfizer Moderna AstraZeneca
Approved aged group 12+ 12+ 18+
Primary course Yes Yes Yes
Third dose for immunocompromised people Yes Yes Not preferred[ATAGI’s advice.”>1]
Booster dose Yes No[2] Not preferred[ATAGI’s advice.”>1]
  • 1AstraZeneca can be given as a booster dose in some circumstances, see ATAGI’s advice.
  • 2Moderna is not yet approved by the TGA as a booster dose.

You can book a booster dose if it has been 6 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.

Common, mild side effects following a booster dose look similar to the side effects following the first 2 doses.

See information about the Pfizer vaccine and rare side effects.

There is limited data on serious side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis following a Pfizer booster dose.

Evidence from Israel suggests that myocarditis and pericarditis are not more common after the booster dose, compared with the second dose.

This side effect is being monitored closely.

ATAGI will continue to review the risk-benefit equation on booster doses.

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