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Older Adults

Immunisation remains an important part of ongoing healthcare for older Australians.

Learn more

Key Summary

  • Why vaccination matters in older age
    • Vaccines reduce illness, hospitalisations, and deaths from preventable diseases.
    • Protection in older adults is especially important due to weaker immune systems and higher rates of chronic conditions.
    • Vaccination also helps reduce disease spread in the community.
  • Free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
    • COVID-19: free for all adults.
    • Influenza: free for all Australians aged 65+.
    • Pneumococcal disease: free from age 50 for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and from age 70 for all others.
    • Shingles: free from age 50 for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and from age 65 for all others.
  • Other recommended vaccines
    • Pertussis (whooping cough) booster may also be advised, though not on the NIP.
    • Speak to your GP to check your immunisation status and discuss additional vaccines.
  • Vaccination gaps in older adults
    • While childhood vaccination rates in Australia remain high, adult and older adult vaccination rates are low.
    • This increases the risk of outbreaks of influenza, shingles, pneumococcal disease, and COVID-19 in vulnerable communities.
  • High-risk settings
    • Residential care facilities (nursing homes, hostels) are particularly vulnerable due to:
      • Close living arrangements.
      • Older residents with chronic health conditions.
    • Strong vaccination uptake among residents and staff is essential to reduce outbreaks.

About

Vaccines are one of the greatest achievements of public health and have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality from a range of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccination throughout life is an essential public health strategy to keep us all free from infectious diseases. While they are critically important in early life, they become extremely important in later life.

Influenza vaccine is free for all Australians aged 65 years and over under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Pneumococcal disease vaccines are free:

  • From age 50 for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • From age 70 for non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults

Shingles vaccine is free:

  • From age 50 for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • From age 65 for non-Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults

There are other vaccines that are recommended for older people, but may not appear on the NIP, such as Pertussis (whooping cough). So it is always important to speak to your GP about the vaccines that are available and/or recommended for you.

Recommended Vaccines For 65 Years And Over

Vaccines recommended for older Australians are:

  • COVID-19 – Available free for all Australians
  • Influenza – Available free through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for:
    • All Australians aged 65 years and over
  • Pneumococcal disease – Available free through the NIP for:
    • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 50 years and over
    • All other Australians aged 70 years and over
  • Shingles (herpes zoster) – Available free through the NIP for:
    • Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 50 years and over
    • All other Australians aged 65 years and over

For more information on immunisation for older adults see here.

If you are unsure about your current immunisation status, see you GP.

Low Vaccinations Rates Among Older Australians

Immunisation remains the most effective way to stop the spread of harmful diseases. It not only protects individuals from serious diseases, but also dramatically reduces transmission in the community.

Australia has demonstrated strong national support and uptake of childhood immunisation thanks to our National Immunisation Program. Adult immunisation rates, however, remain far below optimal levels.

Read or download our published white paper on Enhancing Adult Vaccination Coverage Rates in Australia and our position paper on Strategies To Improve The 2024 Influenza Vaccine Coverage Rate.

Managing Disease Outbreaks In Residential Care Facilities

Residential care facilities are considered to be high-risk environments for COVID-19 and influenza due to communal living arrangements and the continual close proximity of residents.

Nursing homes and hostels catering for the elderly are especially high-risk environments due to the older age of residents and high prevalence of chronic medical conditions.