From 1 October 2026, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia will transition from the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program to the National Immunisation Program (NIP), bringing significant changes to who is eligible for funded COVID-19 vaccination.
This article will provide primary care health professionals with an overview of the changes, why they are occurring and what they mean for patients and vaccination practice. It will explain the new NIP eligibility criteria, including which patients will continue to receive funded COVID-19 vaccination and how frequently vaccination is recommended for these groups.
The article will also explore what the changes mean for patients who are not eligible for NIP-funded vaccination. While COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be routinely funded for everyone, the Australian Immunisation Handbook continues to provide recommendations and ‘can consider’ advice for vaccination outside the funded program. This includes people with chronic respiratory diseases, such as COPD, where an annual booster may still be considered following an individual discussion between the patient and their healthcare professional.
A key change for primary care will be the introduction of COVID-19 vaccination reminders on patients’ Immunisation History Statements for NIP-eligible people when their vaccination is due or overdue. This provides an additional opportunity for healthcare professionals to identify patients who may benefit from vaccination and initiate conversations about staying up to date.
The article will provide practical information to help primary care teams navigate the transition, confidently discuss COVID-19 vaccination with patients, and support appropriate vaccination uptake under the new arrangements.
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