Is Australia a warning for the 2022 Northern Hemisphere winter? BA.5 Omicron variant and reinfections have slammed into the continent, driving up Hospitalizations and Deaths

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Will Australia be the first Western Country to bring back mask mandates for all indoor activities?   As the BA.5 variant of Omicron slams into the country which is now amidst its Winter, like the Northern Hemisphere when the so called fully vaccinated (x2 shots) reached 90%, all restrictions were eased, sans mask wearing on public transport which was maintained.  With requirements to be vaccinated/tested were lifted for all international arrivals and mask mandates abolished all together.   Australian hospitalizations have spiked on the back of the most contagious COVID variant yet, complacency was clearly from the lack of incorporating into public advice that booster shots (x3 vaccinations) would give full immunity to at least 8 mths for the Delta and Omicron variants.   Except, in Australia which probably mirrored other countries, made the choice that fully vaccinated as a terminology could change to 3 doses, it has yet to be implemented.  Only the term 'booster' shot has been advised, which could lead to vaccination reluctance.  Hence waning immunity being more dramatic on the Omicron wave, with immunity falling off from two doses, a third shot could give you an extra boost of immunity until the BA.4 and BA.5 vaccines are released.

And that may occur at the end of 2022.  Pending trials and authorisation.

Chart 1:  Australian Hospitalizations (COVID)

Chart 2:  Australian Deaths (COVID)

https://covid19.who.int/region/wpro/country/au