Covid rarely rates a mention within the news lately, yet Hasn’t gone away.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, continues to be with us. It continues to affect 1000’s of Australians every month, still puts vulnerable people in hospital, sadly still causes deaths and leaves a gradual stream of individuals with long-term disabilities.
As the virus continues to evolve, the booster vaccine is updated to raised match the version of the virus currently circulating.
Here’s what we learn about it, how much it has been around, popular viral affiliates and the newest booster shots.
The graph above shows Australian Covid notifications for the past 24 months National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.
Although the info for December 2025 is incomplete, we are able to see that there are still around 8,000 reports nationally in November 2025.
Two distinct peaks appear: the summer tide in January and the winter tide in June. While 2025 levels are lower than those seen in 2024, the virus continues a pattern of rolling, seasonal mini-waves—only calmer than in previous years.
Of course, this number doesn’t underestimate the variety of true infections because most individuals now not test for Covid and don’t report positive results.
What versions of the virus are circulating?
At the moment, Australia is watching mixture Contributors NB.1.8.1, PQ.17, PE.1.4, RE.1.1, and the increasingly common arrival, LP.8.1.
World Health Organization Classification LP.8.1 as “variety under monitoring”. This is due to its rapid growth and its strong ability to survive current immunity.
Each subtype is just a virus that has picked up a rather different set of mutations because it evolves. All of the above subspecies belong to the broader Amiron family and are descendants of JN.1. They share many basic variations that help them avoid partial immunity, but each has its own little quirks.
Because they’re so closely related genetically, they cause similar disease and respond similarly to vaccines and former infections.
In other words, these aren’t entirely recent strains, but relatively a large number of closely related offshoots jockeying for position.
Booster shot has been updated
Given this ongoing evolution, our vaccines must be updated occasionally. For example, in 2024, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved a brand new booster based on the JN1 suborbit – the most effective available match on the time. However, since then, the viral family tree has branched out.
Now in 2025, there may be TGA Registered Pfizer’s LP.8.1 vaccine is designed to specifically goal the spike protein of LP.8.1. The vaccine should now be available in Australia. It uses the identical mRNA platform because the previous version but updates the immune profile to raised reflect the currently circulating substrates.
We don’t yet have head-to-head vaccine effectiveness studies directly comparing the LP.8.1 vaccine with previous JN.1 boosters.
Instead, decisions to approve an updated booster vaccine depend on immunogenicity data (how strongly the vaccine stimulates neutralizing antibodies) and experience with earlier vaccines.
Elementary laboratory Data suggest that the LP.8.1 update should induce a neutral response in comparison with the JN.1 vaccine against viruses corresponding to LP.8.1, while still offering good cross-protection to other JN.1 progeny corresponding to NB.1.8.1.
Who is eligible for the brand new booster?
Whether Australians are “recommended” or told to think about a free covid booster, and the way often, depends upon them. Age and risk.
Healthy adults aged 18-64 are eligible for a booster every 12 months. The advice is to think about a dose, especially if a brand new vaccine becomes available that higher covers the circulating strain.
For older Australians and people with weakened immune systems, the suggestion is stronger, reflecting their higher risk of severe illness.
Children are really helpful just one booster every 12 months in the event that they are aged 5–17 years and are immunocompromised.
You can too Check your eligibility online. And you possibly can get it Nearest place to administer drops By trying to find “Covid-19 vaccine clinic”. This includes nearby pharmacies, which regularly have walk-in availability, in addition to GP clinics, where you often have to book prematurely.
How protected is the vaccine?
Because the vaccine is so recent, we haven’t got long-term safety data on it. However, a statement The manufacturer tells Pfizer that the security profile must be much like their previous mRNA-based vaccines.
According to the vaccine surveillance system ausvaxsafety24% of individuals experienced a light and short-lived response after being vaccinated with Pfizer’s first JN.1 vaccine. These included pain, redness and swelling on the injection site, fatigue, headache or muscle and joint pain. Less than 1% reported seeing a health care provider or going to the emergency department after vaccination.
Why Vaccination Still Matters
Covid has grow to be less of a barrier, nevertheless it hasn’t disappeared. An infection can still lead to days or even weeks of illness, lost work, and long-term complications for some people.
Vaccination is the best technique to reduce the chance of severe consequences, especially for individuals who have not had a booster in greater than a 12 months.
The elderly are one in all the groups most in danger for severe Covid, Yet only 32% Australians over 75 are up to this point with their booster shot.
Updating our vaccines to match the virus gives our immune system the most effective probability to quickly recognize recent subtypes. This, ultimately, keeps more Australians out of hospital.
As we prepare for the festive season and summer holidays, it is simple for a covid booster to fall off our to-do list. But with many pharmacies accepting vaccination walk-ins, it’s challenging to guard yourself and your loved ones and help keep community transmission low.