Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind calls for medical regulators to approve a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose for the general population.
Albanese said more Australians would be allowed to receive a fourth dose.
Presently, Australians aged 65 and above and those who were immunocompromised were eligible for a second booster shot.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) was expected to meet to consider expanding eligibility amid calls to do so.
Albanese said he told the chief medical officer and the Department of Health officials to consider fourth doses and antiviral treatments for COVID-19.
“I know that the authorities including ATAGI are looking at that. I think it’s a question of when rather than whether it will happen.
“ We need to make sure that people continue to keep up their vaccinations,” he said.
“And you’ll recall, I got COVID during the election campaign. It mitigates some of the impacts on so many people.
“So it is important that we recognize that this pandemic is not over.”
Approximately two-thirds of eligible Australians had received a third COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Australia on Wednesday morning reported more than 35,000 new COVID-19 cases and more than 30 deaths.
