Annual influenza vaccines will arrive soon making autumn the ideal time to check that all your vaccines are up to date. Here are the latest recommendations:
Influenza Vaccine
The influenza vaccine is updated every year and is available for children aged 6 months and over and all adults. The 2025 vaccine will be arriving soon (April).
Those at risk of severe illness are strongly recommended to have the vaccine each year and are eligible for a government funded* one:
- Children aged 6 months to 5 years
- Pregnant women
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- All ATSI people from the age of 6 months
- Anyone with serious health conditions like asthma, diabetes, cancer, immune problems, obesity, kidney, heart, lung or liver disease
COVID Vaccine
It is recommended that all adults aged over the age of 18 receive at least one dose of COVID vaccine (primary course). Children aged 6 months-17 years are eligible if they have other risk factors for serious illness or immunocompromise.
Regular boosters are recommended:
- Every 6 months for adults aged 75 and over
- Annually for adults aged 65-74
- Every 6-12 months for children over 5 and adults with severe immunocompromise.
COVID vaccination is funded by the government*.
RSV Vaccine
The RSV vaccine Abrysvo is recommended and funded* for all pregnant women from 28-36 weeks. See our more detailed article in this newsletter and HERE.
RSV vaccination is recommended but not funded (available on a private prescription) for:
- All adults aged 75 years and over
- Adults aged 60-74 with medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness
- All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 60 years and over
You can read more about RSV in our article from last year HERE and also HERE.
Zoster (shingles) vaccine
Shingles vaccination is recommended and funded* (supplies may be limited and there are some exemptions) for:
- people aged 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years and over
- 18 years and over considered at increased risk of shingles due to an underlying condition and/or immunomodulatory/ immunosuppressive treatments.
Shingles vaccination is recommended but not funded (available on private prescription) for:
- people aged 50-64 years
- immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over
- people aged 50 years and over who live in the same household as someone who has a weakened immune system.
* there may be a fee for the consultation
More information: