Topline
Australian citizens who have been fully vaccinated and permanent residents of Australia will be able to travel to other countries without requiring a special exemption starting November 1. This announcement was made by government officials on Wednesday. As Australia continues to relax most Covid-related restrictions in Australia as the country's national vaccination rate approaches 80%, authorities said that Australia would allow them to travel to the rest of the world from November 1 without requiring a special exemption.
Because of pandemic-related restrictions at the border, Australians have been restricted from flying abroad for more than 18 months. Getty Images
The Key Facts
Scott Morrison, the Australian Prime Minister, announced the move in an interview with 7News. He also stated that more than half a million Australians had already downloaded their international vaccination certificates. Outbound travelers who have been vaccinated will no longer have to apply for a special exemption to travel, as they had to do for almost 18 months due to Australia's tightening of its borders. This move comes days after Sydney and Melbourne lifted quarantine rules for fully-vaccinated inbound travellers. It opens the doors for Australians who have been away for several months to return home. Morrison said that Australia's national plan is working, and Australia is now open to newcomers as the country's vaccination rates continue to climb rapidly. On Tuesday, Singapore had announced that it will allow fully vaccinated travellers from Australia to enter Singapore without quarantine starting November 8. Morrison stated that a reciprocal arrangement would be announced shortly.
Big Number
74.8% This is the percentage of eligible Australians over 16 who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Sydney Morning Heralds vaccine tracker. The eligible population is 87.4%. Australia will lift the majority of its pandemic precautions once 80% of the population has been fully vaccinated. This number is expected to be reached in November.
Tangent
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia's federal drug regulator, has approved Wednesday a booster shot for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination for adults over 18. Greg Hunt, Australian Health Minister, announced the decision. He said that booster doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for people over 18 years old will be available by November 8, after approval from the country's technical advisory group.
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Australia will be returning to international travel as announcements made by Singapore, Thailand and the US on November 1, 2007 (7News).
TGA approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for adults aged 18 and older (ABC News Australia).
Australia will lift the outbound travel ban on vaccinated Australians starting next week (Reuters).
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