Information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer.
People with cancer are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and are at an increased risk of more severe infection. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting yourself from getting really sick from COVID-19. The vaccine will help to protect you, your family and community against COVID-19.
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 5 years and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine now.
With the assistance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and health experts, Cancer Australia developed:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.
This information will help you with questions you may have about the COVID-19 vaccines. You can also talk to your healthcare team if you have any questions. - FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer: Information for the healthcare team.
This information is for members of the healthcare team of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Health Practitioners, Hospital Liaison Officers.
These FAQs are based on information and evidence currently available in Australia and internationally, and are regularly updated as new information emerges.
What’s new?
- For people who are at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19, ATAGI recommends an additional (2nd) booster dose known as the “winter booster dose” 4 months after the 1st booster dose. This includes:
- people aged 16 years or older who are severely immunocompromised, such as people with cancer receiving chemotherapy (for more information on eligibility visit here);
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older;
- non-Indigenous people aged 65 years or older; and
- residents of aged care or disability care facilities.
- This means that for people who are severely immunocompromised, 3 primary doses are recommended for those aged 5 years or older, and 2 booster doses (5 doses total) are recommended for those aged 16 years or older.
- The Novavax vaccine is now available for people aged 18 years and older.
- The Moderna vaccine is now available for all people aged 6 years or older (previously this was available for people ages 12 years or older).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by cancer can find vaccination locations and book an appointment using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer, visit:
- Cancer Australia’s Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines for people affected by cancer
- Australian Government Department of Health Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about COVID-19 vaccines
- The Agency for Clinical Innovation’s shared decision making resources about COVID-19 vaccines: Yarning to make health decisions together
- Message from National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) Chair Donnella Mills on COVID-19 and the vaccines
- Professor James Ward answers important questions about the COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- NACCHO information and FAQs about COVID-19 vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people