By Olivia Condous
Residents from across the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne are delaying their fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, according to health professionals working in the area, and Hume council is renewing their call for residents to get their next dose.
Doctors have reported that some patients are putting off receiving the vaccine as they have heard that a better version, which is more targeted toward the dominant Omicron strain, is in development.
Health professionals have said while another vaccine is on the way, it won’t be available in Australia for many more months.
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network chief executive Christopher Carter said that approving a new vaccine was a rigorous, time-consuming process and that people should not wait for it to be ready.
“It’s a long time to go without the maximum available protection, which you can get now, from your GP or pharmacist or vaccination centre, for free,” Mr Carter said.
Altona North Medical Group GP Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said he’d observed that people’s will to get the vaccine had definitely “dropped off”.
“A whole bunch of people haven’t had their third jab at all, many of them are coming in positive now,” he said.
As of August 11, Hume’s third dose vaccination rate of 58.4 per cent was below the statewide average of 69.4 per cent, prompting council to urge residents to get a third booster shot (ages 16+) or fourth winter dose (ages 30+).
Council is providing easier access to vaccine sites in Broadmeadows and Craigieburn and will implement pop-up sites over coming weeks to encourage locals to get it done, as well as launching a new vaccine awareness video.
“Now is the time to play your part and protect all of Hume from COVID-19,” council said.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued a provisional determination to Moderna and Pfizer to start approvals for an Omicron-specific vaccine earlier this year.
Dr Haikerwal acknowledged the development of a new vaccine was not cause for people to delay their vaccination, as the new version wouldn’t be available until at least the end of the year.
“If [people] are more than three months from their last jab, their immunity has dropped and it’s valuable to get that fourth jab in,” he said.
