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.
Everyone aged 18 years and older may receive a booster, at least six months after the completion of a COVID-19 vaccine primary series. The booster dose was provisionally approved after careful evaluation of the available data supporting safety and efficacy.
The vaccine is the same safe and effective vaccine used for other age groups, however is one-third the dose approved for those aged 12 and over. As with other age groups, the use of this vaccine in children aged 5-11 years should be given in two doses, at least 3 weeks apart.
The rollout for 5-11 year olds is expected to begin on 10 January 2022, subject to advice from Australia’s immunisation expert panel and other related approvals.
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 both doses of their primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago.
A booster dose will make sure the protection from the primary course is even stronger and longer lasting.
Find more information on the Department of Health website.
