Following Victorian Premier Daniel Andrew’s announcement calling for proof of full vaccination to be bumped to a third dose for the state, a proposal has been laid on the table that booster jabs become a requirement for tourists as well.
Victoria cannot close its own international border, however, the state can still prevent interstate visitors and restrict venues to the triple-vaccinated, according to the Premier.
On that note, infectious disease expert Professor Peter Collignon has warned against mandating booster shots for international visitors as Australia’s international border re-opens on 21 February, urging Mr Andrews to join the “consistent national approach”.
The federal government’s position is that all tourists and travellers who are fully vaccinated – that is, double-jabbed – will be welcome.
“I think we have to be careful about having too stringent vaccine requirements,” Professor Collignon told Channel Nine’s Today program, highlighting that booster shots were of most value to over-60s, in decreasing their risk of death and hospitalisation.
“Whether that is as necessary for 20-and-30-year-olds, particularly if they have been vaccinated relatively recently, I don’t think we have the data yet.
“And it depends what we are doing it for. Are we doing it to stop people dying or stopping transition? The booster is not as good at stopping the spread rather than protecting you. We have to be careful we don’t put mandates in place well before the evidence is really there,” he said.
Similarly, Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham warned Victoria could suffer economically if Mr Andrews insists on a mandatory third COVID-19 jab for tourists.
“To now have this sort of uncertainty cast across it is going to be a crippling blow to businesses that have been on their knees for two years now. I just would urge Daniel Andrews to reconsider in that regard.”
Mr Birmingham stressed that should Victoria start missing out on international visitors, there will be immense pressure from sports, events, hospitality and anyone relying solely or partly on the tourism industry to survive.
“We don’t want to have a fight over this. We want them to adhere to the same type of approach that we’re trusting the rest of the country will stick to, which is the health advice (which) says double dose.”
