From 1 October 2026, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia transitioned from the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program (NCVP) to the National Immunisation Program (NIP), bringing it into the routine framework used for other nationally funded vaccines^1,2.

Under the NIP, funded COVID-19 vaccination focuses on people at highest risk of severe disease1. Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available every six months for adults aged ≥75 years, and every 12 months for adults aged 65–74 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years, and adults aged ≥18 years with severe immunocompromise^1,2.

For people outside these NIP-funded groups, vaccination will still be an option following an individual risk–benefit discussion with their healthcare professional³, although they will need to purchase the vaccine privately.

COVID-19 vaccination remains a key part of respiratory disease prevention

COVID-19 continues to cause serious illness, hospitalisation and death, particularly among older adults and people with underlying conditions that increase their risk of severe disease⁴. It is a leading contributor to respiratory infection-related deaths, with 2,227 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in Australia in 2025⁵, so it’s important to maintain protection. While vaccination and previous infection provide protection, this can decrease over time since the last dose⁶. Recent Australian data shows that older adults who received a COVID-19 vaccine more than 12 months ago were almost twice as likely to die from COVID-19 as those vaccinated within the previous 3 months^7,8.

The benefits of vaccination are particularly relevant for older adults and people with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19, such as chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD, severe asthma, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis^3,9.

Although chronic respiratory disease alone does not qualify people for NIP-funded COVID-19 vaccination, health professionals can consider discussing a dose with these patients based on their individual circumstances and a risk–benefit assessment³. COVID-19 vaccination can be incorporated into routine respiratory disease prevention alongside other measures such as influenza, RSV, pneumococcal and pertussis vaccination¹⁰.

A new opportunity for primary care

For people aged 65 years and over and First Nations people aged 50 years and over who are eligible for funded COVID-19 vaccination, next-due and overdue vaccinations will appear on their Immunisation History Statement alongside other routine vaccinations. However, the Australian Immunisation Register cannot identify people aged 18 years and over with severe immunocompromise who are eligible for a funded COVID-19 vaccination, so their vaccination status will not be prompted in the same way^1,11.

Practice tip: Checking vaccination status during routine consultations, chronic disease reviews, medication reviews and post-hospitalisation follow-up can help identify patients who may benefit from a vaccination. A clear recommendation from a health professional can also play an important role in supporting vaccine uptake^12,13.

For patients who have already received another respiratory vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination does not necessarily need another separate appointment. COVID-19 vaccines can generally be co-administered with other vaccines, including influenza vaccine, when appropriate^3,14.

Supporting conversations about COVID-19

Simple, patient-centred conversations can help address common concerns, including previous COVID-19 infection, vaccination fatigue and perceptions that influenza or other respiratory vaccines are now more important¹⁵. Understanding a patient’s age, concomitant medical conditions, previous vaccination history and individual circumstances can help provide personalised advice and support share decision-making about vaccination¹⁶.

For patients who are no longer eligible for a funded COVID-19 vaccination, the cost of a private vaccination may be an important consideration. You can acknowledge cost as a legitimate barrier and support patients to weigh the potential benefits of vaccination alongside their individual risk of severe COVID-19.

Practical resource for primary care

Lung Foundation Australia has developed a new “Adult COVID-19 Vaccination: A guide for primary care” resource. It provides a concise overview of current COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, NIP-funded eligibility and high-risk groups for whom further vaccination can be considered. It also includes practical prompts to support conversations with patients about COVID-19 vaccinations.

The guide is designed as a point-of-care resource to help health professionals check vaccination status, assess individual risk and confidently recommend COVID-19 vaccination when appropriate.

This article was independently developed by Lung Foundation Australia. Moderna Australia provided financial support but were not involved in the development or review of content.

References

1.National Immunisation Program. Update for immunisation providers: COVID-19 vaccine NIP transition. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, ACT. 2026. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccines-update-for-immunisation-providers. Accessed 31 August 2026.

2.Roberts J. COVID-19 vaccines to move onto NIP. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), East Melbourne VIC. 2026. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/covid-19-vaccines-to-move-onto-nip. Accessed 31 August 2026.

3. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). Australian Immunisation Handbook. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, ACT. 2022. immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au.

4.Kamalakkannan A, Prgomet M, Thomas J, Pearce C, McGuire P, Mackintosh F, et al. Factors associated with general practitioner-led diagnosis of long COVID: an observational study using electronic general practice data from Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. Med J Aust. 2024;221 Suppl 9:S18–S22.

5.Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Deaths due to acute respiratory infections in Australia. ABS, Belconnen, ACT. 2026. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/deaths-due-acute-respiratory-infections-australia/latest-release. Accessed 31 August 2026.

6.Liu B, Stepien S, Dobbins T, Gidding H, Henry D, Korda R, et al. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination against COVID-19 specific and all-cause mortality in older Australians: a population based study. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;40:100928.

7.National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia (NCIRS). Why is COVID-19 vaccination important for older adults? NCIRS, Westmead, NSW. 2026. https://ncirs.org.au/covid-19/covid-19-vaccination-resource. Accessed 31 August 2026.

8.Liu B, Stepien S, Macartney K. Changing COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 mortality in older adults in Australia, 2022-2025. Communications Health. 2026;1(8).

9.Asthma Australia. Severe asthma and COVID-19. Asthma Australia, Sydney, NSW. 2026. https://asthma.org.au/severe-asthma-and-covid-19/. Accessed 31 August 2026.

10.National Immunisation Program. National Immunisation Program Schedule. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, ACT. 2026. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-immunisation-program-schedule. Accessed 31 August 2026.

11.Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Check immunisation history. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, ACT. 2025. https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/getting-vaccinated/check-immunisation-history. Accessed 31 August 2026.

12.Taksdal SE, Mak DB, Joyce S, Tomlin S, Carcione D, Armstrong PK, et al. Predictors of uptake of influenza vaccination–a survey of pregnant women in Western Australia. Aust Fam Physician. 2013;42(8):582–6.

13.Seale H, Macintyre CR. Seasonal influenza vaccination in Australian hospital health care workers: a review. Med J Aust. 2011;195(6):336–8.

14.National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia (NCIRS). Co-administration of vaccines for adults: a guide for immunisation providers. NCIRS, Westmead, NSW. 2026. https://ncirs.org.au/ncirs-fact-sheets-faqs-and-other-resources/co-administration-vaccines-adults-guide-immunisation. Accessed 31 August 2026.

15.Alderotti G, Corvo MF, Buscemi P, Stacchini L, Giorgetti D, Lorini C, et al. Communicating with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination: A Qualitative Study on Vaccinators in Tuscany Region, Italy. Vaccines (Basel). 2023;11(2).

16.Wennekes MD, De Haan F, Eilers R, Caputo A, Nicoli F, Nagy D, et al. Perceptions on vaccines, vaccine communication and information needs of healthcare professionals involved in older adult vaccination: A cross-country interview study. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025;5(9):e0004928.