Australia
Australia’s adult immunization landscape is recognized as important but remains a developing priority compared to childhood vaccination, which has achieved world-leading coverage.
Overview
Australia’s adult immunization landscape is recognized as important but remains a developing priority compared to childhood vaccination, which has achieved world-leading coverage. Adult vaccine uptake faces challenges including vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and system barriers that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, there is increasing national attention on adult immunization's role in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases that cause significant illness, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs in adults.
Vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases, including influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, whooping cough, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are major contributors to morbidity and healthcare burden among Australian adults. For example, pneumococcal disease alone cost the healthcare system an estimated $16 million in 2020-21 among adults.1
There is strong public and expert support for establishing national adult vaccination coverage targets, similar to those long in place for children and adolescents. Such targets are seen as essential for driving accountability, improving uptake, and demonstrating the public health benefit of vaccination. Some Australian states, such as New South Wales, have already set targets for influenza vaccination in adults aged 65 and over, with a goal of 75% annual coverage.2
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free essential vaccines mainly for children and eligible groups, including some vaccines for adults with medical risk conditions and older adults.3 However, adult immunization coverage remains suboptimal, requiring expanded focus, better access, clearer information, and government investment to improve rates.
In summary, while adult immunization is increasingly recognized as a public health priority in Australia due to its role in reducing illness and healthcare costs, significant gaps and barriers remain. The evolving policy landscape encourages stronger adult vaccination targets, increased investment, education, and support to boost coverage and protect adult populations.
This important emerging focus sets the stage for expanding adult immunization programs across diseases including RSV, which is now getting increased national and state-level attention with new adult vaccine options becoming available.
Australia
Australia’s adult immunization landscape is recognized as important but remains a developing priority compared to childhood vaccination, which has achieved world-leading coverage.
Annual Number of Cases
RSV (2025)
Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction
Data depends on reported data from territories - backlogs may delay complete reporting
Annual Number of Cases
COVID-19 (2025)
Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction
Annual Number of Cases
Shingles (2025)
Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction
Annual Number of Cases
Influenza (2025)
Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction
Vaccine Cost
RSV (2025)
Free Maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo®); Free to eligible infants and children (RSV monoclonal antibody Beyfortus®); $300 without subsidy
Vaccine Cost
COVID-19 (2025)
Free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status
Vaccine Cost
Shingles
Free for those aged 65+, First Nations people aged 50+, and immunocompromized people aged 18+ at high risk of shingles infection; $560 without subsidy (two doses)
Vaccine Cost
Influenza (2025)
Free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months+, children aged between 6 months to under 5 years, pregant women, people aged 65+, people aged 6 months+ with higher risk of getting serious diseases; $20-$30 without subsidy
Vaccine Availability
RSV
Available in 2024
Vaccine Availability
COVID-19
Available in 2021
Vaccine Availability
Shingles
Available in 2018
Vaccine Availability
Influenza
Available - Seasonal
Targeted Age Range
RSV
General: Pregnant women (28-36 weeks)
Older Adult-specific Recommendation: People aged 75 and older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander/People with medical risk factors for severe RSV disease aged 60 and older
Targeted Age Range
COVID-19
All people aged 18 and older
Targeted Age Range
Shingles
General: People aged 18 and older considered at risk of shingles due to an underlying condition and/or immunocompromising treatments
Older Adult-specific Recommendation: People aged 65 and older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People aged 50 and older
Targeted Age Range
Influenza
All people aged 6 months and older
Among those 60+:
32,153 cases
* *This number represents only those cases which present to the healthcare system and are tested and identified; the true number of cases is likely to be significantly higher.
This tab provides data on the annual infection rates for each disease per country based on the most recent year with available data
Annual Number of Cases
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | How was this calculated? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 177949 | Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction | National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System | Data depends on reported data from territories - backlogs may delay complete reporting |
This tab provides data on the annual infection rates for each disease per country based on the most recent year with available data
Annual Number of Cases
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | How was this calculated? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 186267 | Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction | National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System | Data depends on reported data from territories - backlogs may delay complete reporting |
This tab provides data on the annual infection rates for each disease per country based on the most recent year with available data
Annual Number of Cases
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | How was this calculated? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10257 | Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction | National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System | Data depends on reported data from territories - backlogs may delay complete reporting |
This tab provides data on the annual infection rates for each disease per country based on the most recent year with available data
Annual Number of Cases
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | How was this calculated? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 502943 | Aggregate of annual notifications received by jurisdiction | National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System | Data depends on reported data from territories - backlogs may delay complete reporting |
This tab provides data on the cost of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Cost
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | Source | Calculation | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo®); Free to eligible infants and children (RSV monoclonal antibody Beyfortus®); $300 without subsidy | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the oficial govt. website |
This tab provides data on the cost of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Cost
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | Source | Calculation | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the oficial govt. website |
This tab provides data on the cost of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Cost
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | Source | Calculation | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free for those aged 65+, First Nations people aged 50+, and immunocompromized people aged 18+ at high risk of shingles infection; $560 without subsidy (two doses) | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the oficial govt. website |
This tab provides data on the cost of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Cost
Latest year: 2025
| AP-CHAAI Estimate | Source | Calculation | Caveats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months+, children aged between 6 months to under 5 years, pregant women, people aged 65+, people aged 6 months+ with higher risk of getting serious diseases; $20-$30 without subsidy | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the oficial govt. website |
This tab provides data on the availability of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Availability
| Available and Year? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, 2024 | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
This tab provides data on the availability of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Availability
| Available and Year? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, 2021 | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
This tab provides data on the availability of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Availability
| Available and Year? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, 2018 | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
This tab provides data on the availability of vaccines for each disease, per country.
Vaccine Availability
| Available and Year? | Source | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, Seasonal | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) |
This tab provides data on the targeted age range of adult vaccines for each disease, per country.
Targeted Age Range
| AP-CHAAI Estimate (General) | AP-CHAAI Estimate (Older Adult-specific Recommendation) | Source | How was this calculated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnant women (28-36 weeks) | People aged 75 and older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander/People with medical risk factors for severe RSV disease aged 60 and older | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the official govt. website |
This tab provides data on the targeted age range of adult vaccines for each disease, per country.
Targeted Age Range
| AP-CHAAI Estimate (General) | AP-CHAAI Estimate (Older Adult-specific Recommendation) | Source | How was this calculated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| All people aged 18 and older | All people aged 18 and older | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the official govt. website |
This tab provides data on the targeted age range of adult vaccines for each disease, per country.
Targeted Age Range
| AP-CHAAI Estimate (General) | AP-CHAAI Estimate (Older Adult-specific Recommendation) | Source | How was this calculated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| People aged 18 and older considered at risk of shingles due to an underlying condition and/or immunocompromising treatments | People aged 65 and older; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People aged 50 and older | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the official govt. website |
This tab provides data on the targeted age range of adult vaccines for each disease, per country.
Targeted Age Range
| AP-CHAAI Estimate (General) | AP-CHAAI Estimate (Older Adult-specific Recommendation) | Source | How was this calculated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| All people aged 6 months and older | All people aged 6 months and older | Department of Health, Disability and Ageing | found the information on the official govt. website |
AUSTRALIA
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI)
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) comprises up to 33 members, including 15 standing voting members drawn from two categories: (1) clinical professionals, researchers, and service delivery experts, and (2) consumer representatives. Voting members may serve overlapping terms of up to four years. The Minister for Health appoints a Chair and Deputy Chair—each drawn from members who have served at least one year—for terms of up to three years, renewable once. The committee also includes up to six ex-officio members.
ATAGI’s clinical expertise spans pediatrics, immunology, infectious diseases (adult and pediatric), public health, adult immunosuppression, maternal immunization, and pathology. Research expertise covers disciplines relevant to vaccine assessment and population use, including epidemiology, infectious disease modelling, behavioral science, health technology assessment, and systematic evidence review.
ATAGI provides technical advice to the Minister for Health on vaccine administration, informs research funders on immunization priorities, and advises the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) on the strength of evidence supporting existing and emerging vaccines.
Adult RSV Immunization in Australia
Australia's adult immunization landscape is progressing with a growing focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a significant cause of respiratory illness in older adults. RSV vaccines have recently been approved for adults, with specific recommendations and varying funding arrangements across states.
Australia has approved several RSV vaccines for adults aged 60 and over as well as adults aged 50–59 with risk conditions. Key RSV vaccines available and their status include:
Arexvy (GSK)
Approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for adults aged 60+ and for those aged 50–59 with risk conditions. It is recommended for all adults 75+, First Nations adults, and adults with risk conditions aged 60+. It is not currently funded nationally through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) but is funded in Victoria for residents aged 60+ in public and Aboriginal community-controlled aged care services. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) reaches up to 82.6% in the first season with effectiveness against hospitalization of 83%.
Abrysvo (Pfizer)
Also approved by TGA and recommended similarly to Arexvy. It has received a positive recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), yet it is not NIP-funded. Effectiveness against medically attended LRTD is reported around 84.6% for the first season, with hospitalization effectiveness about 73%.
mRESVIA (Moderna)
Approved for adults 60+ with VE against LRTD of approximately 50% over 18.8 months of follow-up.
RSV Disease Burden in Australia
RSV causes a substantial disease burden in all age groups, including older adults:
- Hospitalization and severe RSV cases are significant among adults aged 60 and over, contributing to respiratory illness burden and healthcare utilization.
- For children, nearly 115,000 hospitalizations with an RSV diagnosis occurred nationwide between 2016 and 2019, with three-quarters in children under five years, reflecting the overall RSV impact in the population. 1,2
National and
State-Level Programs
While RSV immunization is available and recommended for adults, Australia’s major government funding support for RSV vaccine programs currently focuses more on infants and maternal immunization to protect infants, which indirectly impacts adult disease burden:
- Victoria funds Arexvy for adults aged 60 and over in specific aged care settings.1
- National programs include maternal RSV vaccine availability under the NIP for pregnant women to protect infants from birth to 6 months, signaling Australia’s commitment to RSV prevention. 2
Summary Statistics and Impact
RSV vaccine adoption among adults is emerging, with recommendations prioritizing older adults (≥75 years), First Nations populations, and adults with comorbidities.1,2
Real-world effectiveness studies indicate substantial reduction in RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease and hospital admissions among vaccinated adults.
RSV remains a reportable disease in Australia, with notifications climbing from about 96,000 in 2022 to over 175,000 in 2024, reflecting enhanced surveillance and recognition.3
Australia’s adult immunization landscape is rapidly evolving to include RSV vaccines, improving protection for older adults, especially those at higher risk. While national funding for adult RSV vaccination is limited, states like Victoria have started supporting vaccination programs. The combined strategy of adult vaccination alongside maternal and infant immunization marks an important advance in controlling RSV in Australia.4
This first phase of our work focuses on RSV. Additional disease areas will be added as the dataset and analysis continue to expand.
Sources:
1. National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance. (2025, July 30). Summary of RSV immunisation product efficacy and safety [PDF].
2. Barnett, S. T., Tuckerman, J., Barr, I. G., Crawford, N. W., & Wurzel, D. F. (2025). Respiratory syncytial virus preventives for children in Australia: Current landscape and future directions. The Medical Journal of Australia, 222(11).
3. Attwooll, J. (2025, June 5). The rapidly changing landscape of RSV protection. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
4. Australian Government, Department of Health. (n.d.). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In Australian Immunisation Handbook.