To protect vulnerable Australians from COVID this winter, we need to pick up the pace on third doses
- Written by Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute
Anthony Albanese campaigned on better pandemic management. Giving the vaccination program a shot in the arm will be his first test.
Not long ago, every shipment of vaccines was a news item and people were queuing around the block to get a jab.
Today, despite rising COVID cases and deaths, Australians seem to have lost interest. The vaccination rate for third doses has almost stalled.
Speeding up third doses will be critical to protecting Australians against Omicron variants as we move into winter. But without a focus on equal access, that protection will remain uneven.
Australia is losing the race
After a shaky start, Australia got near the top of the charts for second dose coverage.
But only about half the population has had a third dose. That puts us back in the middle of the OECD pack, and we’re falling further behind the leaders.