It's not too late to get your winter vaccinations
A statement by Australia's Chief Medical Officer, June 2026
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Michael Kidd AO, is calling on older people who have not yet had their winter vaccinations to make the appointment and get protected.
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against serious illness, hospitalisation and death caused by respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These illnesses can be severe even in otherwise healthy people.
Free vaccines are now available for people most at risk of complications through the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP), including older adults. People can get their vaccine at general practices, pharmacies, immunisation clinics and residential aged care providers for people living in aged care. Vaccination is a simple way to avoid unnecessary illness, serious complications, and potentially hospitalisation.
Although we can’t predict the 2026 flu season, we can look at, and learn from, key outcomes from the 2025 season.
Last year, Australia saw only marginal improvements in influenza vaccination coverage compared with 2024. For adults aged 65 and older, coverage increased slightly from 61 per cent in 2024 to 61.1 per cent in 2025 – far below the 68.3 per cent achieved in 2022. Concerningly, influenza vaccination rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people declined further, falling from 22.7 per cent in 2024 to 22.4 per cent in 2025.
Low vaccination rates mean those at highest risk of severe influenza are also the least protected. Improving influenza vaccination coverage in 2026 is important to reduce preventable illness, hospitalisation and deaths this flu season.
Flu vaccines are recommended and free for at risk groups, including people aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over.
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone and recommended every 12 months for people aged 65 to 74 years and every 6 months for people 75 years and older.
From 15 May 2026, free RSV vaccines became available on the NIP for people aged 75 years and over, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 60 years and over.
For those not eligible for a free vaccine through the NIP or state and territory vaccination programs, you can purchase a vaccine through your immunisation provider.
You can safely get your flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines at the same appointment or separately. Speak with your doctor about your eligibility for other recommended free NIP vaccines. For more information about winter vaccinations, visit health.gov.au/winter-vaccinations
Link to Winter vaccination VNR - Professor Michael Kidd AO, Chief Medical Officer.
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