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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), while pneumococcal disease vaccines become free from the age of 70.
There are other vaccines that are recommended for older people, but may not appear on the NIP, such as Pertussis (whooping cough). The Zoster (shingles) vaccine maybe free, depending on the brand and the actual age of the individual.
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 those 65 years and over
- Pneumococcal disease – available free for those aged 70 years and over (NIP)
- Shingles (herpes zoster) – From 1 November 2023, the shingles vaccine Shingrix® will be available for people aged 65 and older.1
For more information on immunisation for older adults see here.
If you are unsure about your current immunisation status, see you GP.
1 National Immunisation Program – changes to shingles vaccination from 1 November 2023: October 2023
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 the recently published white paper on Enhancing Adult Vaccination Coverage Rates in Australia (2021)
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.