New South Wales registered a dip in new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. It reported 13,468 cases on Monday compared with 15,683 on Sunday and 17,597 on Saturday.
On Monday, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton tweeted that double vaccinated students in the state are 60 per cent less likely to catch COVID than unvaccinated students. Students who had three vaccine doses are 67 per cent less likely to get infection.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has announced several COVID-19 safety measures ahead of the federal elections on 21 May.
The AEC said voting services are open to all enrolled Australians regardless of their vaccination status.
Australia's top electioneering body said it doesn't have powers to check the vaccination status of political participants campaigning or scrutineering, but temporary election workers need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.
AEC's mobile voting teams are unlikely to visit all aged care facilities or hospitals due to a higher COVID-19 risk in these settings. Residents can visit a nearby voting centre or use a postal vote.
Voting is compulsory in Australia.
AEC said voters could face delays at polling centres due to COVID-19 safety measures.
AEC chief Tom Rogers told that they are working on a telephone voting option for those who test positive for COVID-19 on election morning and are yet to cast a postal ballot.
The Australian Technical Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) said it will continue to review international evidence for using COVID-19 booster doses in children aged 12 to 15.
ATAGI said it does not recommend that adolescents aged 12-15 years need to receive a booster dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
"Current data suggest that COVID-related serious illness is very rare in adolescents aged 12-15, particularly after completion of a primary series of COVID-19 vaccination," Australia's national vaccine advisory group said in a .
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has already given its approval for the use of Pfizer in this age group.
Earlier this year, ATAGI had approved Pfizer booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds.
ATAGI said it considers all COVID-19 vaccines registered in Australia for administration under conscious and deeper sedation.
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