School holidays are coming up which means some of us may be heading on an interstate trip, a European holiday, or a visit to popular destination Bali.
And you may be wondering whether a COVID-19 booster is necessary as an extra layer of defence.
Although it’s not mandatory, experts say travellers should stay up-to-date on COVID-19 boosters given their higher likelihood of exposure to the virus.
Here’s how long it takes for a booster to reach maximum protection and who’s eligible for one.
When should I get my COVID-19 booster before travelling?
Associate professor of public health at the University of Technology Sydney Jane Frawley says you should get a booster two weeks before your holiday.
“The vaccine takes up to 14 days to be effective,” Dr Frawley tells the ABC.
“Having a booster will drastically reduce the likelihood of getting COVID-19, and if you do get the virus, your symptoms will be mild in most cases.”
Why should you get a booster?
Because travel is a high-risk behaviour.
“For some people, they might not perceive themselves to be at high enough risk to receive a booster,” University of Queensland infectious disease physician Paul Griffin tells the ABC.
“But we do want people to appreciate the risk of travel and the impact of getting sick when you’re trying to enjoy your time elsewhere.”
Dr Frawley says you have to remember travelling often involves crowded environments and poor ventilation — think airports, planes, cruise ships, trains, buses, and hotels.
This is where exposure is at its greatest.
How long does a COVID-19 booster last?
That’s hard to determine.
“It depends on how frequently you’ve been vaccinated, how long ago your last vaccine was, your own immune system, among some other factors,” Dr Griffin says.
“The other thing that affects the performance of the vaccine is when the virus changes — it can be hard to know exactly how long protection lasts.
“But what we do know is that while protection declines over time, that doesn’t mean it disappears to zero quickly.”
This is why the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) says most adults (who are not severely immunocompromised) can consider getting a booster every 12 months.
Who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster?
That depends on your age and whether you’re at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
Here are the booster dose recommendations according to the Department of Health:
You can also check your eligibility via the COVID-19 booster tool.
But as always, the best advice is to chat with your GP about your vaccine options.
Which booster should I get? Does it have to be the same as my previous one?
In Australia, we only have one type of vaccine — mRNA — and there are two different manufacturers:
Dr Griffin says those in need of a booster should be getting the monovalent XBB 1.5 vaccine, which uses mRNA.
“Over the course of the pandemic, we’ve had multiple vaccines that targeted different variant/s: the original Wuhan strain, bivalent, and monovalent.
“But right now all we have available since the end of last year is the monovalent XBB 1.5 vaccine which targets a subvariant of Omicron.”
The ATAGI also says XBB.1.5-containing vaccines are preferred over other COVID-19 vaccines.
An XBB.1.5-containing vaccine is not currently available for children aged six months to five years. However, a formulation has been approved for use and supply of it is anticipated in 2024.
But does one manufacturer have a slight edge over the other? Should people receive the same or the alternate option for their booster?
“In the end, which of those brands you choose doesn’t matter,” Dr Griffin says.
“Early on, there was some suggestion that if you went from one platform to another, there might be some benefit there.
“But these days we really only have one platform, and there are no significant measurable differences that should make someone pick and choose one over the other.”
And as the virus continues to develop, experts say you should keep an eye out for updated vaccines.
How can I check when my last COVID-19 booster was?
There are a few different ways you can do this:
- Your Medicare online account through myGov (make sure your Medicare is linked to myGov)
- The Express Plus Medicare mobile app
- Online using the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service through myGov
Through your Medicare account, you’ll be able to see your COVID-19 vaccine certificates and also see a link to your immunisation history statement.
What about antivirals? Who’s eligible for them?
There are two COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments available:
The antivirals are used to help prevent COVID-19 infections from becoming severe.
They’re typically prescribed to individuals who are at higher risk of severe disease if they become infected with COVID-19.
If you are 18 years and older and test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for an oral COVID-19 antiviral medicine if you:
- Have previously been hospitalised from COVID-19 and reinfected
- Are moderately to severely immunocompromised
You may also be eligible if you test positive for COVID-19 and you are:
- 70 years of age or older, regardless of risk factors and with or without symptoms
- 50 years of age or older with two additional risk factors for developing severe disease
- A First Nations person, 30 years of age or older and with one additional risk factor for developing severe disease
Should we be wearing masks when travelling?
It’s not mandatory to wear a mask.
But Dr Frawley and Dr Griffin both agree masks are something to consider when travelling, especially if you’re at high risk.
“They are still relevant, especially in crowded indoor areas where it’s not always possible to avoid viruses like COVID-19 that spread easily through the air,” Dr Frawley says.
Keep in mind some countries, airlines and vessel operators may have COVID-19 travel requirements in place.
Here’s some other simple advice to take with you:
- Wash your hands after being in shared indoor and outdoor spaces
- Have all available vaccines in time — this includes a COVID-19 booster, among others
- Seek formal pre-travel advice from a clinic, particularly if you’re travelling to a high-risk destination
A quick snapshot of national and international COVID-19 case numbers
Here’s how case numbers are tracking nationally.
According to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS), 45,007 cases were reported in Australia in May.
It was an increase of 24,300 on the previous month.
If we take a look at each state’s individual COVID-19 surveillance system, all states (bar the Northern Territory which doesn’t record COVID-19 data) have recorded a jump in cases over the past fortnight.
And what about overseas COVID-19 case numbers?
Here’s a snapshot of some of the popular international tourist destinations (data from the World Health Organization):
But why are case numbers higher in Australia than the countries listed?
Dr Frawley and Dr Griffin say it is likely due to a few different factors:
- How much testing is happening and differences in the way case numbers are reported
- Australia is seeing a rapid rise in the new subvariant FLiRT
- COVID-19 has settled into a seasonal pattern for many countries, and our cases are currently higher because it’s winter
- Tropical destinations such as Indonesia don’t have such marked flu/cold/COVID-19 seasons and probably don’t test so much anymore