An expert in Australia has warned that the country could be hit by a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases, and that booster doses are needed to secure freedom across the country.

According to sources, everyone who has received two doses of the coronavirus vaccination is deemed completely immunised in Australia, allowing them to travel interstate and internationally as well as enter hospitality venues and large gatherings.

Raina MacIntyre, an infectious diseases expert, suggested on Thursday that two doses might not be enough.  "After a few months, the immunity from two doses of vaccine, whether it's AstraZeneca or Pfizer," MacIntyre told Nine Network television.  "If we've taken three shots, we should consider ourselves fully immunized," she said.

The booster vaccine programme in Australia began on November 8, with third doses available six months after the second shot for anyone aged 18 and over. On Thursday, more than 1,500 new locally acquired Covid-19 infections and five deaths were recorded across Australia. Only one new case was reported in the Northern Territory (NT): a teenager from the Binjari Aboriginal community who officials assumed was under quarantine.

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