Boosters urged amid rise in COVID-19 cases

(AP Photo/Ben Gray)

Experts are renewing calls for people to get their COVID-19 booster dose in the wake of rising infections and hospitalisations.

As new sub-variants of the virus emerge during winter, epidemiologists warn of a rise in reinfection and people developing severe bouts of the disease.

Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett said the broader community would be at greater risk of infection in weeks to come.

“We are seeing what we feared might happen, particularly the convergence of a troubling flu season after having had a couple of years of respite,” she told Sky News on Thursday.

“With COVID, we’re also seeing the numbers stay high and that’s partly because Omicron now has that possibility of having reinfection in ways we haven’t seen before, particularly with these new variants.”

NSW health authorities said Omicron variants were likely to become the dominant virus strains in coming weeks, warning of a rise in infections even among those who have already had COVID-19.

Professor Bennett said each new variant would be more transmissible, making it more difficult for people to avoid catching the virus when out in public.

She said some of the people who received their booster early in the rollout may have protection from the virus starting to wane.

Only 70 per cent of the eligible population has received their booster dose.

“The message is if you haven’t had your booster, have it,” Prof Bennett said.

“It’s really important that people get tested early and are made aware whether they’re candidates or not for antivirals, so that might help with high infection rates.”

Victoria will lift some of their restrictions at midnight, with positive cases from Saturday able to drive a member of their household to or from education or work without leaving their vehicles.

Mandates for third vaccine doses will also be lifted for workers in education, food distribution and quarantine settings, with vaccine policies up to individual workplaces.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said while cases were rising in parts of the country, emergency pandemic measures across states and territories should be lifted.

“Australians really are asking their premiers and their chief ministers to let them get on with their lives,” she told Sky News.

“We actually have to learn to live with this virus, and the way to learn to live with it is to allow people to make their decisions.”

(AAP)

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