From 1 July, a new pneumococcal vaccine for adults will be added to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) to cover more strains of the disease, providing free access to more Australians.
Adults 65 years and over will be able to access the pneumococcal vaccine on the NIP where it was previously available for people 70 years and over. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, adults 25 years and over will be eligible, expanding eligibility from adults aged 50 years and over.
New medical risk categories have also been added to the list of conditions eligible for free NIP pneumococcal vaccines including for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and chronic liver disease.
Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, also known as pneumococcus. It is especially serious for children and older people and is most common in winter and spring.
When combined, the adult and childhood vaccines will now provide coverage for an additional 10 strains, protecting people in Australia against 31 strains of pneumococcal disease.
A single dose of pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for adults aged 65 years and over. All children are recommended to get a dose of pneumococcal vaccine at 2, 4 and 12 months of age.
