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Updated 16th February 2023
Please encourage your household members and other close contacts to have the COVID-19 vaccine, including the booster dose, once they are eligible as this may offer you further protection from getting COVID-19. This is known as the “ring” vaccination concept.
**A 2 page guide to the 2023 winter booster dose can be found here. **
An Australian Government COVID vaccine fact checker is available.
A 2 page guide for your treating doctors can be found here. Please refer to the Australian Living Guidelines for the Pharmacological Management of Inflammatory Arthritis for more detailed information.
Please do not contact the ARA Secretariat for medical advice regarding the vaccine, please consult with your prescribing doctor.
The ARA will update this advice as new information becomes available.
Primary course
How many doses do I need?
Some other treatments or combinations of treatments and/or conditions might also qualify for a third vaccine dose - ask your specialist or GP if you are uncertain.
A booster dose refers to an additional vaccine dose after the primary vaccine course is complete which for most people is 2 doses. A booster dose is recommended for individuals who have completed their primary course, 3 or more months ago:
In line with recommendations for the entire community, all patients with AIIRD should have had a booster dose after they completed their primary course (regardless of whether this was a 2-dose or 3-dose primary course). Many people with AIIRD will have had the 2022 winter booster dose. The 2023 winter booster dose is now recommended for certain people. This will mean that some people with rheumatic diseases will be up to their 6th dose COVID-19 vaccine dose i.e. a primary course of 3 doses, original booster, the 2022 winter booster and the 2023 winter booster dose.
The 2023 winter booster dose is recommended for the following people if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed COVID infection (whichever is the most recent) was > 6 months ago and regardless of the number of prior doses received;
The 2023 winter booster dose should be encouraged in the following people if their last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed COVID infection (whichever is the most recent) was > 6 months ago and regardless of the number of prior doses received;
If you are unsure whether you should have the 2023 winter booster dose, speak to your rheumatologist or doctor.
Which brand of vaccine should I have for my booster dose?
The Australian Government recommends the use of either the Moderna, or Pfizer vaccines for both the primary and booster doses in pregnant women at any stage of their pregnancy. This is because the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn baby. There is still limited data on the safety of the AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines in pregnancy. Women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to delay vaccination or avoid becoming pregnant after vaccination. A shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy can be found here
All 6 vaccines can be given to women who are breastfeeding. Breastfeeding women do not need to stop breastfeeding to receive the vaccine. More information can be found here You can talk to your midwife and/or rheumatology healthcare team if you are not sure what to do.