'Winter booster' COVID jab available to eligible Western Australians

A fourth COVID-19 jab is available to eligible Western Australians from today.

The 'winter booster' is aimed at increasing immunity for high-risk groups before winter reducing hospitalisations.

Eligible people include those aged 65 and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 and over, residents of aged care or disability care facilities and people 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised. 

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) does not currently recommend a fourth dose for healthy people who are not in the eligible groups.

The winter booster dose can be given from four months or longer after the person has received their third dose or last booster dose.

Eligible people can access the vaccine in GPs, pharmacies and State-run vaccination clinics, and bookings can be made via the Roll Up for WA website from mid-April.

"This is an important recommendation that will further protect at-risk Western Australians from severe illness and reduce hospitalisations related to COVID-19 over winter," Premier Mark McGowan said.

"I encourage all people within these groups to take advantage when they become eligible and again roll up for WA to help protect themselves and their community from COVID-19."