Vaccines for adults
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule provides free routine vaccinations for adults. You may need booster doses of some vaccines to maintain high levels of protection. Most vaccines are more effective if delivered at a specific age.
The following vaccines are provided free to adults:
| Age | Disease |
|---|---|
| Pregnant women | Influenza, pertussis (whooping cough) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – See Immunisation for pregnancy |
| All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults | Influenza |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults 50 years and over | Pneumococcal and shingles |
| People 65 years and over | Influenza and shingles |
| People 70 years and over | Pneumococcal |
Find more information:
Influenza vaccine
Influenza is especially serious for people 65 years and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and people with specific medical conditions that increase their risk of serious influenza disease and complications.
The annual influenza vaccine is free through the National Immunisation Program for:
- pregnant women
- adults 65 years and over
- all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
- people with specific medical conditions.
The influenza virus strains change every year and the vaccine changes every year to match the new strains. That is why it is important for people to get the vaccine every year.
If you are not eligible for a free influenza vaccine, you can buy it privately through a GP or pharmacy.
Find more information:
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
The whooping cough vaccine is recommended between 20 and 32 weeks of every pregnancy although it can be given up to the time of delivery. It is the best way to protect newborn babies from birth against whooping cough.
Find more information:
- Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
- Immunisation for pregnancy.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
The maternal RSV vaccine is recommended for women at 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their baby against serious illness from RSV. Vaccination during pregnancy is the best way to protect newborn babies from birth against RSV and serious complications.
Find out more information:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
- Immunisation for pregnancy.
Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine
Shingles (also called herpes zoster) is a disease caused when the chickenpox virus reactivates. Shingles can cause severe nerve pain that can last for months.
The shingles vaccine is free through the National Immunisation Program for eligible people most at risk of complications from shingles.
A 2-dose course of the shingles vaccine is available for free for:
- people 65 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and over
- 18 years and over considered at increased risk of herpes zoster due to specified medical condition or treatment.
The shingles vaccine does not contain the live virus and is safe for people who are immunocompromised.
If you previously received a free Zostavax shingles vaccine under the NIP, you are not eligible for a free shingles vaccine under the NIP for at least 5 years.
If you purchased the Zostavax vaccine privately you can receive the shingles vaccine for free under the NIP if you are eligible.
You should wait at least 12 months between receiving Zostavax and getting the shingles vaccine.
Please discuss your eligibility for the shingles vaccine with your health professional.
Find more information: Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine
Pneumococcal vaccine
Pneumococcal disease is a bacterial infection. It is especially serious for older people. It can cause:
- pneumonia
- infection of the blood (sepsis)
- inflammation of the membranes around the brain (meningitis).
The pneumococcal vaccine is free through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for:
- adults 70 years and over
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults 50 years and over.
Find more information: Pneumococcal vaccine
Adults with medical risk conditions
Some adults with specific medical risk conditions may require which vaccines. Speak to your health professional about which vaccines you may need.
Find more information: Immunisations for people with medical risk conditions
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to receive free pneumococcal, shingles and annual influenza vaccines from 50 years of age through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Please see your health professional or Aboriginal health worker for advice on what you may need and to discuss eligibility.
Find more information:
Missed vaccinations
The vaccines listed below are part of the routine childhood schedule:
Generally, adults will not need boosters. We recommend you talk to your health professional if you are not sure if:
- you have had all the recommended vaccines
- you may need boosters
- someone in your care may need additional vaccines or boosters.
Please note that the National Immunisation Program (NIP) does not cover adults for missed vaccines. Missed vaccines can only be caught up for people up to 20 years old (25 years old for the HPV vaccine). You can buy additional vaccines privately if you need to.
Refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can get National Immunisation Program vaccines for free if they did not receive the vaccines in childhood and they are still clinically recommended.
Check the National Immunisation Program schedule and talk to your health professional if you have not had all the recommended childhood or adolescent vaccinations.
Booster vaccines
A booster is an extra dose of a vaccine that you have had previously. It 'boosts' your immune system.
The following vaccinations need booster doses.
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
Diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations are given as diphtheria-tetanus (dT) or diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis) (dTpa) vaccinations.
Tetanus is a serious disease that causes severe muscle spasms, especially in the neck and jaw (called lockjaw). It can sometimes cause death.
A booster dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended for adults who:
- are 50 years or over
- have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years
- have a wound that is not a minor cut, and your previous dose was more than 5 years ago
- have previously had a primary course of 3 doses.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is serious disease that can lead to pneumonia, brain injury and sometimes death. It can affect people at any age but it is especially serious for babies.
Adults who have not had the whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years should have a single booster dose if:
- you are 65 years or older
- you are in close contact with infants.
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) does not cover booster vaccines for adults and seniors. You can buy additional vaccines privately if you need to. Talk to your health professional if you think you or someone in your care may need additional vaccines.
Find more information:
Getting vaccinated
Find out more about getting vaccinated, including:
- where you can get vaccinated
- if you need to pay
- who can be vaccinated
- what to expect at your vaccination visit
- side effects.