Respiratory infections

Influenza

ATAGI recommend influenza vaccination for all Australians aged six months and over.

NIP-funded vaccination is available for:

• Children aged six months to five years
• First Nations Australians aged six months and over
• Pregnant women
• People aged 65 years and over

It is also funded for people with certain medical conditions including the following lung conditions:

• Bronchiectasis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medicines).

You can learn more in the Australian Immunisation Handbook – Influenza.

COVID-19

From 1 October 2026, COVID-19 vaccines are only NIP-funded for:  

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

Explore Lung Foundation Australia’s resources to support health professionals in understanding the latest COVID-19 vaccination arrangements and addressing patient questions. 

Adult COVID-19 Vaccination: A guide for primary care 
A practical quick-reference guide to support primary care health professionals.

COVID-19 vaccination is changing: What primary care needs to know 
Read the launch article for further context on the transition and what it means for primary care. 

You can learn more in the Australian Immunisation Handbook – COVID-19. 

Pneumococcal disease

NIP-funded vaccination is available as a routine childhood immunisation. It’s also available for:

• First Nations Australians aged 25 and over
• Non-Indigenous Australians aged 65 and over

It is also available for people under 65 (or 25 First Nations) with certain medical conditions including the following lung conditions:

• Bronchiectasis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Cystic fibrosis

ATAGI recommend vaccination for people under 65 (or 25 if First Nations) living with the following, but it is not NIP-funded for them:

• Severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medicines)
• Interstitial and fibrotic lung disease
• People who smoke (current or in the immediate past)

Important note: NIP-eligible adults who have received adult pneumococcal vaccines prior to July 2026 require re-vaccination (NIP-funded).

You can read more in the Australian Immunisation Handbook – Pneumococcal disease.

Pertussis

NIP-funded vaccination is available as a routine childhood immunisation. It is also available for:

• Pregnant women

Vaccination for the following groups is recommended by ATAGI, but not NIP-funded:

• Breastfeeding women (who didn’t receive a booster during pregnancy)
• People aged 50 years with their tetanus booster
• People aged ≥65 years if more than 10 years since last dose
• Adults who have not received a pertussis booster in the past 10 years who are healthcare workers
• Early childhood educators and carers or in close contact with infants
• Travellers

Read more in the Australian Immunisation Handbook – Pertussis.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

NIP-funded vaccination is available for people aged 75 years and over, and First Nations Australians aged 60 years and over.

ATAGI recommend vaccination for (non-Indigenous) people aged 60 to 74 years with the following lung conditions, but it is not NIP-funded for them:

• Bronchiectasis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medications)

Read more in the Australian Immunisation Handbook – Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).