‘Quite dangerous’: Australia’s slowing Covid booster rollout worries doctors

The messaging around the severity of the Omicron Covid variant and a degree of pandemic fatigue is slowing Australia's booster rollout, as some Australians shun the third dose.

Clinton, who asked for his last name not to be used, is pro-vaccine - he got his first two doses as soon as he could, choosing AstraZeneca because he believed it was slightly more effective.

But because the illness caused by Omicron is less severe than other variants, Clinton has decided not to get the booster.

"May as well just wait to catch it, stay home, recover, and enjoy natural immunity thereafter," he said. "But hypothetically if the 'rona got really mean again I would likely get a booster."

As of Friday, 10,583,499 Australians, or 51% of those aged 16-plus, had received a booster, with analysis from Guardian Australia showing recently the rollout was still lagging at least a month behind the "ideal" schedule.

About half of the currently eligible Australians had not received their third shot.

The Burnet Institute epidemiologist, Mike Toole, said this time the slow rollout could not be put down to supply issues.