Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Smith. There is very simple action that Australians can take: get vaccinated. Vaccination continues to be our best defence against the virus. To provide even greater protection against COVID-19, Australians aged 18 and over who have received two doses of a vaccine at least six months ago are now eligible for a booster shot. This follows advice from Australia's vaccine experts, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, and approval from Australia's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The booster program will roll out directly to people living in residential aged-care and disability homes through in-reach programs. As of today there are over 500 aged-care facilities and quite a few disability sites that have already received those in-reach programs. This makes Australia one of the first countries in the world to commence a whole-of-population booster program.