Who needs another COVID vaccine – and who might be able to skip it? |
The COVID pandemic feels like a long time ago. Now, we have widespread immunity from vaccination and natural infection. And getting COVID is less risky than it was five years ago.
But COVID can still lead to hospitalisation and deaths in older people, pregnant women and those with underlying chronic diseases, such as asthma or heart disease.
Each year in Australia, COVID is estimated to cause 2,000–5,000 deaths and more than 100,000 hospitalisations. COVID was the leading infectious cause of death in Australia between 2020-2025, with 4,613 deaths in 2023, 3,908 in 2024 and 1,722 deaths in 2025.
Vaccination continues to be one of the most effective ways to prevent deaths and serious complications from COVID.
So who should get a COVID vaccine, and how often?
Older adults and those with underlying conditions
COVID vaccines are recommended for those at risk of getting severe disease:
adults 75 years and over are recommended to get a COVID booster every six months
adults 75 years and over are recommended to get a COVID booster every six months
adults aged 65–74 years without underlying conditions are recommended to get a booster every 12 months
adults aged 65–74 years without underlying conditions are recommended to get a booster every 12 months
adults aged 18–64 with underlying conditions are recommended to get a booster every 12 months.
adults aged 18–64 with underlying conditions are recommended to get a booster every 12 months.
A study found........