Australia’s vaccine rollout chief Lieutenant General John Frewen confirmed at Senate estimates on Wednesday that just over 11 per cent of the eligible population had yet to receive their third shot. While the uptake in the over 50s and residents in aged care facilities ranged between 82 and 94 per cent, General Frewen said those under 40 were the holdouts. “I think there is both elements of some confusion and elements of some complacency around the rollout in those age groups,” he said. “It comes to people no longer as fearful of Omicron as they were with previous variants. People have had it and have moved on and thought no big deal. Why bother getting a booster?“Some people are still confused about when they get it if they‘ve had Covid. You know, there’s a myriad of reasons.”A targeted advertising campaign to the under-40s reminding them that their social life is “underpinned by the maximum possible take up of vaccines” is in the works. There is a concern that more than 450,000 Australians who received the AstraZeneca vaccine last year and have not returned for an mRNA booster have very little protection against Omicron. But Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the government was not going to force Australians to get a booster shot. “I think the point here, though, is that this is a choice for Australians,” she told the hearing. “But clearly we want to make sure that they‘ve got the information so they understand the benefits to themselves, their families, their communities and their employment of being protected from Covid.”It comes as the “winter booster” – a fourth or in some cases fifth shot – was made available for some groups of people on Monday. Chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the program was indicative of Australia’s changing approach to the pandemic. “Our extremely high vaccination rates, particularly for people aged 65 and over, coupled with the recent availability of effective treatments, mean we can shift the focus away from reducing transmission to minimising harm from Covid-19 in our at-risk population groups; for instance the elderly and those with underlying health conditions,” he told the committee. “While there may be challenges ahead, I see no reason why, even with the easing of restrictions we are now enjoying, the strong position Australia is in should change over the coming winter months.”
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