The latest official news, updates and advice from the Australian Government.
Effective immediately, anyone who is not a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or their immediate family including parents of citizens, and who has been in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi and Mozambique – within the past 14 days – will not be able to enter Australia.
Australian citizens and permanent residents, immediate family members, including parents, arriving from these countries will need to go into immediate supervised quarantine for 14 days subject to jurisdictional arrangements.
Anyone who has already arrived in Australia and who has been in any of these countries within the past 14 days must immediately isolate, get tested for COVID-19 and follow state and territory quarantine requirements, which will include quarantine for 14 days from the time of departure from southern Africa.
Anyone over 18 living in Australia who has completed their primary two-dose course of vaccination at least 5 months ago is now eligible to have an additional booster shot. A booster dose will make sure that the protection from the primary course is even stronger and longer lasting, and should help prevent spread of the virus.
Australians aged 18 and over now have the choice to receive a Moderna booster shot following approval from Australia’s immunisation experts. Both Moderna and Pfizer are preferred vaccines for COVID-19 boosters – irrespective of which vaccine a person has received for their primary course of vaccination.
More than 93.2% of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and over 88.9 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated.
National Cabinet received an update from the Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly about advice from the TGA and ATAGI on vaccinating 5 to 11 year olds in 2022 and the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster. The vaccine rollout for 5 to 11 year olds is expected to begin on 10 Jan 2022.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government has invested a further $540 million to keep Australians safe.
Make sure that you comply with COVID-19 testing requirements in the states or territories that you plan to travel to. This applies for both international and domestic travel.
Free booster doses are available to everyone 18 years and over who have had their second dose of a primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least 5 months ago.
A booster dose will make sure the protection from the primary course is even stronger and longer lasting.
Book your COVID-19 booster now at the Vaccines Clinic Finder.