COVID-19 vaccines move to the National Immunisation Program with revised eligibility

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program underwent a major structural change on 1 October 2026. COVID-19 vaccines are now funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) instead of the previous stand-alone National COVID-19 Vaccine Program.¹ The National COVID-19 Vaccine Program was established as part of Australia’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support broad access to vaccination when most of the population lacked immunity to the disease.² COVID-19 is now endemic in Australia and continues to disproportionately affect certain populations.³

Under the new model, COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be universally funded. Instead, free COVID-19 vaccines will be available only for the following groups at highest risk of severe disease:⁴

• adults aged 75 years and over (one dose every 6 months)
• adults aged 65 to 74 years (one dose every 12 months)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 74 years (one dose every 12 months)
• adults aged 18 years and over with severe immunocompromise (one dose every 12 months).

This approach aligns COVID-19 vaccination with the funding arrangements for other NIP vaccines, supporting sustainable program delivery while maintaining protection in vulnerable populations.

People who do not meet the NIP eligibility criteria can still choose to purchase the vaccine privately, following consultation with their healthcare provider.

Since 1 October 2026, under the NIP, states and territories have assumed responsibility for vaccine ordering, distribution and reporting processes, consistent with arrangements for other NIP-funded vaccines.⁴

Healthcare providers should refer to support materials and the latest information from the Department of Health when updating processes for vaccine ordering, reporting and assessing patient eligibility. The Australian Immunisation Handbook remains a primary resource for current recommendations and guidance on vaccine administration, storage and handling.⁵

 

References

1. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. National Immunisation Program. 2023. [cited 2026 Aug 27]
2. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. About the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program. 2025. [cited 2026 Aug 27]
3. Milliken E. Treatment of acute COVID-19 in the community. Aust Prescr 2026;49:116–23.
4. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. COVID-19 vaccines – Update for immunisation providers. 2026. [cited 2026 Aug 27]
5. Australian Immunisation Handbook. COVID-19. Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; 2026. [cited 2026 Aug 31]