“More than 836,000 young people,or 63 per cent,have not had a coronavirus booster. It’s the 16-to 29-year-olds I’m particularly concerned about because they’re out and about,getting the virus and they’re obviously transmitting it,” he said.
“We’ve got just over 300,000 people in the 60-plus age bracket who are still not boosted … that makes them particularly vulnerable. They’re the grandmothers and grandfathers,the aunts,the uncles that young people are going to see. We need the whole population boosted,” he said.
Separate data provided to theHerald from Operation COVID Shield shows about 25 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds have been boosted,after becoming eligible on February 2.
Lieutenant-General John Frewen acknowledged there was “some complacency around getting a booster”,warning Omicron is a “dangerous virus and a booster was the best protection” against infection.
Nationally,about 900,000 people aged 60 and over are yet to have a booster.
“Even if you have had COVID-19,get a booster. Just because you’ve had[the virus],it doesn’t mean you can’t get it again. A booster helps protect you against the most severe symptoms,” General Frewen said.
Infectious disease expert Professor Peter Collignon said with NSW hitting 95 per cent double-vaccinated,the aim should be for boosters to match that.
“The priority needs to be over-60s because the evidence is that the benefits of boosters are greatest in older age groups. Protection against hospitalisation starts falling six months after second jab,” Professor Collignon said.
Mr Hazzard said he was not supportive of a return to mask restrictions,adding he was concerned about people’s “mental health,children being able to attend school and the economy returning to a reasonable level”.
Despite increased transmissibility of BA.2,it doesn’t appear to be more severe.
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“The big worry is,if you’ve got more people getting it,you’ll get more people possibly needing health care. So far,it’s not showing up in our ICUs but it still could. Obviously,we are watching that very closely,” he said.
On Tuesday acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale singled out people over 60 or those with chronic conditions including diabetes,liver disease or renal disease to come forward for a booster.
Infectious disease expert and former ATAGI co-chair Christopher Blyth said it was unclear how many people were deferring a booster after catching the virus,with the advice in NSW to have the jab four to six weeks after infection.
“Older people are likely to have been vaccinated early in the rollout,so they are more at risk as immunity wanes. It does surprise me uptake is so low in younger people,although severe disease is uncommon in those groups,” Professor Blyth said.
Across NSW,61 per cent of over-16s have been boosted overall. Over the past six weeks,about 20 per cent of people across all age groups have come forward for the booster shot in NSW,but this has not been enough among the elderly to reach the same levels achieved during the primary course of vaccination.
Teenagers and people in their 20s had the lowest rates,although in recent weeks these age groups have recorded the highest numbers of cases.
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