A fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for more Australians.

Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed 7.4 million people will now be eligible to receive a second booster jab from next week after the federal government accepted new recommendations from the country’s peak immunisation body.

Anyone aged over 30 can choose to get a fourth jab with those aged 50 to 64 especially encouraged.

60 per cent of people aged 65 and over have already turned out for their fourth dose in recent weeks.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has also recommended the interval between vaccine doses from four to three months to provide additional protection.

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