Why should I get vaccinated against COVID-19?

COVID-19 can cause serious, long-term health conditions, and sometimes death.

If you’re not vaccinated, your risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases.

When enough people in the community become immunised, it’s more difficult for the virus to spread. This helps to protect people who are not eligible for vaccination.

Vaccination is also important for those who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 since it can help to prevent hospitalisation or death.

Factors that increase your risk of severe illness from COVID-19 include:

• certain treatments
• particular illnesses and conditions
• your age, especially if you are over 70 years old
• your environment
• smoking
• being pregnant
• being male

What are the recommendations for people eligible for vaccination?

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people aged 18 years or older.

Primary doses may be considered for children aged 6 months to 17 years with medical conditions that may increase their risk of severe disease or death from COVID-19.

Primary doses of a vaccine are the first doses you need for protection against a disease.

Having a further dose after you complete your primary course helps to maintain protection against COVID-19.

Adults aged 18 years or older without severe immunocompromise

If you are 18 years or older and not severely immunocompromised, and you haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccine yet, you’re recommended one dose, known as the primary vaccination course.

Further doses

If you have had your primary vaccination course and you’re aged:

• 75 years or older, you’re recommended further doses of COVID-19 vaccine every 6 months
• 65 – 74 years, you’re recommended further doses of COVID-19 vaccine every 12 months. You can consider further doses every 6 months after speaking with your healthcare provider.
• 18 – 64 years, you can consider further doses every 12 months after speaking with your healthcare provider

Speak with your doctor, pharmacist or vaccine provider for advice on getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

People with severe immunocompromise

If you are severely immunocompromised and you haven’t had a COVID-19 vaccine yet, you’re recommended to have 2 primary doses. You can consider a third dose after speaking with your healthcare provider.

All primary doses should be given at least 8 weeks apart.

A person may be vaccinated 3 to 4 weeks after their last primary dose in exceptional circumstances. Speak with your doctor, pharmacist or vaccine provider for advice.

Further doses

If you have had your primary vaccination course and you’re aged:

• 75 years or older, you’re recommended further doses of COVID-19 vaccine every 6 months
• 18 – 74 years with severe immunocompromise, you’re recommended further doses of COVID-19 vaccine every 12 months. You can consider a dose every 6 months after speaking with your healthcare provider.
• 5 – 17 years with severe immunocompromise, you can consider a further dose every 12 months after speaking with your healthcare provider

Infants and children aged 6 months to 4 years are not recommended further doses.

Children and adolescents with medical conditions that increase their risk of COVID-19

A primary course may be considered for infants, children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years with conditions other than severe immunocompromise that may increase their risk of severe COVID-19, who haven’t yet had a COVID-19 vaccine, after speaking with a healthcare provider.

• Children and adolescents aged 5 –17 years can have one primary dose.
• Infants and children aged 6 months – 4 years can have 2 primary doses. A third dose may be considered after speaking with their healthcare provider. All primary doses should be given at least 8 weeks apart.

Further doses are not recommended.

To learn about the medical conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19, visit the Australian Government’s Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Speak with your doctor, pharmacist or vaccine provider for advice.

Pregnant or breastfeeding

For information on COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for pregnancy and breastfeeding, visit Pregnancy, Birth and Baby.

Do I need the vaccine if I'm recovering from or have had COVID-19?

There is minimal benefit from having a COVID-19 vaccine soon after infection. However, COVID-19 testing rates have dropped, and some people may not know if they have had COVID-19 recently. If this is the case for you, it’s suitable to get a COVID-19 vaccine where recommended.

Having a vaccine dose after a recent COVID-19 infection is not harmful. The immune response given from the combination of past infections and vaccination, called hybrid immunity, gives important protection against severe COVID-19.

BOOK YOUR VACCINATION — Use the Service Finder to book a COVID-19 vaccination.

How effective are COVID-19 vaccines?

COVID-19 vaccines are shown to be good at preventing severe illness from COVID-19.

Vaccines train your immune system to quickly recognise and get rid of the bacteria or viruses that can cause serious illnesses.

If a vaccinated person is exposed to COVID-19, the immune system can respond faster and more effectively to protect against the disease.

How much does COVID-19 vaccination cost?

COVID-19 vaccination is free for everyone living in Australia.

You can get a free COVID-19 vaccination even if you don’t have Medicare. If you do not have a Medicare account and you are eligible for one, you can register for one at Services Australia.

How do I make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination?

The easiest way to make an appointment is by using the free online Service Finder tool. Select the COVID-19 vaccine clinic option and enter your postcode to find clinics near you.

If you have had a COVID-19 vaccine before, you don’t have to return to the same clinic for your next dose. You can also get vaccinated interstate.

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot on the same day?

You can have a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot on the same day. You should get each vaccine in a separate arm so if you do get a sore arm, you know which vaccine has caused that side effect.

Having 2 different vaccines on the same day can potentially increase your chances of having a mild to moderate reaction. If you've had a reaction after a previous COVID-19 vaccine or influenza vaccine, you may choose to space your vaccinations out this time.

Children aged 6 months to 4 years can have COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines (including an influenza one) on the same day if having them on different days is not practical. However, it’s preferable to space COVID-19 vaccination out from another vaccination by 7 to 14 days.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more advice on when to schedule your vaccinations.

Do COVID-19 vaccines have side effects?

The most frequently reported side effects include injection-site reactions, such as a sore arm. Other reported side effects include:

• headache
• muscle pain
• fever and chills
• fatigue

Most side effects last no more than a couple of days and you'll recover without any problems.

You should seek medical attention after vaccination if:

• you think you are having an allergic reaction
• you're worried about a potential side effect or have new or unexpected symptoms
• you have an expected side effect of the vaccine that hasn't gone away after a few days

If you’re concerned, the best person to speak with is your doctor.

You can report suspected side effects to your vaccination provider, other healthcare professionals or Therapeutic Goods Administration.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

Is COVID-19 vaccination mandatory?

Vaccination is not mandatory for most Australians. But if you work in certain industries, you may need a vaccination to keep attending your workplace. Check with your employer to see if this applies to you.

For information about vaccine mandates and recommendations that may be relevant where you live, check with the health department of your state or territory:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

How do I prove my vaccination?

There are 3 free ways to prove you have been vaccinated against COVID-19:

• a COVID-19 digital certificate
• your immunisation history statement (IHS)
• an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate for overseas travel

The COVID-19 Digital Certificate or IHS can be viewed or printed through:

• Medicare Online via MyGov
• Express Plus Medicare mobile app
• My Health Record

You can learn more about getting proof of COVID-19 vaccination on the Service Australia website:

• how to get immunisation history statements
• international vaccination certificate

Which vaccine types and vaccine brands are available in Australia?

XBB vaccines are the preferred COVID-19 vaccines over other available vaccine types.

The following COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in Australia.

Paediatric (children) vaccines

• Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 (Pfizer) 5 – 11 years
• Comirnaty Original (Pfizer) 5 – 11 years
• Comirnaty Original (Pfizer) 6 months – 4 years

Adolescent and adult vaccines

• Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 (Pfizer) 12 years and older
• Comirnaty bivalent Original/Omicron BA.4/5 (Pfizer) 12 years and older
• Spikevax Omicron XBB.1.5 (Moderna) 12 years and older

Speak with your doctor, pharmacist or vaccine provider about which COVID-19 vaccine you should have.

You can also visit the Australian Immunisation Handbook for clinical advice on COVID-19 vaccines.