For Health Professionals 

Adult vaccination coverage for the vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases (influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia and pertussis) is sub-optimal. For the one in three Australians living with a lung disease, these infections increase their risk of symptom exacerbation, lung function deterioration, hospitalisation and death. This page summarises the recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), including the new vaccine recommendation for RSV for Australians over 60 years of age.

Influenza

National Immunisation Program (NIP)-funded vaccination

Children aged six months to five years; Indigenous Australians aged six months and over; pregnant women; people aged 65 years and over; people with certain medical conditions*

*Lung conditions:

  • Suppurative lung disease
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • COPD and chronic emphysema
  • Severe asthma (requiring frequent medical consultations or the use of multiple medicines).

Not NIP-funded, but ATAGI-recommended

All non-Indigenous Australians aged five years and over

Read more: Australian Immunisation Handbook – Influenza

Note: All Queensland residents over the age of six months can access the influenza vaccine for free in 2024. 

Read more: Queensland Health

COVID-19

Recommended booster vaccinations:

Every six months for Australians aged 75 years and over, every 12 months for 65–74-year-olds and 18–64-year-olds with immunocompromise.

Read more: Australian Immunisation Handbook – COVID-19

Remember: a healthcare professional recommendation for vaccination to a patient is the strongest predictor of uptake. Talk to your adult patients about immunisation.

COVID

Pneumococcal disease

National Immunisation Program (NIP)-funded vaccination

Routine childhood immunisation; eligible people under 20 years of age and refugees/humanitarian entrants of any age who did not receive childhood immunisation; Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and over; non-Indigenous Australians aged 70 years (catch-ups 71-79 years); people with certain medical conditions*

*Lung conditions:

  • Suppurative lung disease
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Chronic lung disease in preterm infants.

Not NIP-funded, but ATAGI-recommended

Lung conditions:

  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Severe asthma
  • Interstitial and fibrotic lung disease.

Risk factors:

  • Smoking (current or in the immediate past).

Read more: Australian Immunisation Handbook – Pneumococcal disease

Pertussis

National Immunisation Program (NIP)-funded vaccination

Routine childhood immunisation; eligible people under 20 years of age and refugees/humanitarian entrants of any age who did not receive childhood immunisation; pregnant women

National Immunisation Program (NIP)-funded vaccination and Pertussis-containing vaccines not NIP-funded, but ATAGI-recommended

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: Australian Immunisation Handbook – Pertussis

Discuss pneumococcal vaccination with your patients who have COPD, interstitial and fibrotic lung disease, or severe asthma. Don’t wait until they are 70 (or 50 for Indigenous Australians) for the free vaccine. Patients may be willing to pay, and some health insurance policies subsidise the cost.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Not NIP-funded, but ATAGI-recommended

People aged 75 years and over; Indigenous Australians aged 60 to 74 years; people aged 60 to 74 years with certain medical conditions*

Consider in all other adults aged 60 to 74 years

*Lung conditions:

● Suppurative lung disease

● Bronchiectasis

● Cystic fibrosis

● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic emphysema

● Severe asthma.

Read more: Australian Immunisation Handbook – Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)