Two key factors will determine how severe the next COVID-19 wave will be, according to experts.
As a cool change rolls in, Australians can brace themselves for another wave of the COVID-19 virus. Four years into the pandemic, vaccination remains the best way to protect Australians from severe disease, experts say. But there's concern many older people, who are at greatest risk of serious symptoms, are not up-to-date with their boosters. Epidemiologists told SBS News what challenges lie ahead this winter.
"If and when it mutates, that will almost certainly take off and could be the next wave," Esterman told SBS News, with current vaccines not based on these variations. He highlighted low booster numbers are another possible challenge, with many at-risk Australians aged 75 years and over not up to date with their vaccines. "They're our big vulnerable population group and they are under-vaccinated," he said.
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