Calls to expand fifth COVID vaccine rollout

The federal government is being asked to expand eligibility for a fifth COVID vaccine dose.

Currently, only severely immunocompromised people are recommended for a fifth dose.

However, older Australians are now calling for eligibility to be expanded, with concerns that their fourth dose immunity is waning.

Virologist, Tony Cunningham, said that Moderna’s new bivalent vaccine could be a good option for additional doses.

A bivalent vaccine is a one which protects against two different types of COVID variants.

With new sub-variants emerging, the bivalent vaccine may offer higher levels of protection as it specifically targets Omicron variants.

Getting Up To Date with Covid vaccinations

Health authorities continue to emphasise the importance of getting up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.

The relaxation of Covid restrictions means that the COVID virus, which continues to circulate in the community, will continue to have an impact.

The best way to protect family and the community and help boost individual immunity, is to be get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

Vaccinations continue to be available from most GPs or pharmacies.

Melbournians warned not to swim at beaches

Melbourne residents are being urged not to swim at local beaches, with floods causing contamination.

Ongoing floods across Victoria have caused high level of contamination, with heavy rain bringing toxic microbes or micro-organisms, into waterways across the state.

Victoria’s chief environmental scientist, Mark Taylor, said the microbes pose a risk of pollution, mosquitos and water-borne diseases.

The Environment Protection Authority conducted an analysis of the quality of water across the state.

They have now issued a warning from those findings, saying that no beaches around Port Phillip Bay are currently suitable for swimming.

(NEMBC Multilingual News Service, Victoria)

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