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National Immunisation Program
Pneumococcal schedule for adults
Program advice for health professionals
Key points
• From 1 July 2026, the 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (21vPCV), Capvaxive®, will be
introduced on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and the adult immunisation schedule updated.
• Capvaxive® will replace Prevenar 13® and Pneumovax 23® on the NIP for adults.
• The pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive®, is recommended and free through the NIP for:
o Adults aged 65 years and over.
o Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 25 years and over.
o Adults aged 18 years and over with specified medical conditions that increase their risk of severe
disease.
• Eligible adults who have previously received a dose of any other pneumococcal vaccine are
recommended to receive a dose of Capvaxive® at least 12 months after their last dose.
• For clinical recommendations, vaccination providers are encouraged to refer to the pneumococcal
chapter of the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
• These changes lower the age at which people are recommended for pneumococcal vaccination, simplify
the vaccine schedule, and cover more strains of the disease.
Which adults are recommended a
pneumococcal vaccine
The pneumococcal vaccine, Capvaxive®, is
recommended for:
• Adults aged 65 years and over.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
aged 25 years and over.
• Adults aged 18 years and over with
specified medical conditions that increase
their risk of severe disease.
Adults aged 65 years and over
A single dose of Capvaxive® is recommended
and free through the NIP for eligible adults
aged 65 years and over.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
adults 25 years and over
A single dose of Capvaxive® is recommended
and free through the NIP for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander adults aged 25 years and
over.
Adults aged 18 years and over with
specified medical risk conditions
A single dose of Capvaxive® is recommended
and free through the NIP for eligible adults
aged 18 years and over with a specified
medical condition at diagnosis. See Australian
Immunisation Handbook Table. Risk conditions
for pneumococcal vaccination and eligibility for
NIP funding.
Repeat vaccination for adults
65 years and over
Adults aged 65 years and over who have previously
received a dose of any other pneumococcal vaccine
are recommended to receive a dose of Capvaxive®
at least 12 months after their last dose.
Adults aged 18–64 years who receive a dose of
Capvaxive® due to a specified medical risk condition
do not need another dose at 65 years of age.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged
25 years and over who have previously received a
dose of any other pneumococcal vaccine are
recommended to receive a dose of Capvaxive® at
least 12 months after their last dose.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged
18–24 years who receive a dose of Capvaxive® due
to a specified medical risk condition do not need
another dose at 25 years of age.
Specified medical conditions
Adults aged 18 years and over with specified
medical risk conditions who have previously
received a dose of any other pneumococcal vaccine
are recommended to receive a dose of Capvaxive®
at least 12 months after their last dose.
Children diagnosed with a risk condition before
18 years of age who received a dose of Prevenar
20® are recommended to receive a dose of
Capvaxive® at 18 years of age.
Administration errors and adverse events
Adults aged 65 years and over and Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 25 years
and over who develop a risk condition and have
already received a dose of Capvaxive® as part
of the adult program do not need another dose.
Co-administration of vaccines
Adults can receive a pneumococcal vaccine at
the same time as, or separate to, other
vaccines, such as zoster, seasonal influenza,
RSV and COVID-19 vaccines. There may be
advantages of co-administering vaccines,
including maximising coverage and ensuring
vaccines are received on time. Refer to the
Australian Immunisation Handbook for further
information.
Vaccine efficacy and safety
Evidence from clinical trials found that
Capvaxive® is safe in adults.
Pneumococcal vaccines are not routinely
recommended for pregnant women. Women of
child-bearing age who have a risk condition for
pneumococcal disease are normally
recommended to receive a vaccine either:
• before a planned pregnancy, or
• as soon as practicable after delivery.
Breastfeeding women can receive
pneumococcal vaccines.
Side effects
Common side effects include mild pain at the
injection site, fatigue, and headaches. These side
effects usually last for a few days and go away
without any treatment. Serious side effects, such
as severe allergic reaction, are rare.
Contraindications
The only contraindications to pneumococcal
vaccines are anaphylaxis after:
• a previous dose of any pneumococcal
vaccine.
• any component of a pneumococcal vaccine.
Victorian-funded Diphtheria booster vaccination campaign
Dear colleagues,
The Victorian Department of Health is implementing a targeted vaccination campaign in response to the current diphtheria outbreak in northern and central Australia. For details refer to the Chief Health Officer Advisory, 4 June - Diphtheria booster vaccination campaign | health.vic.gov.au.
Ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients are up to date with diphtheria vaccination. Offer vaccination to those eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) or the Victorian-funded outbreak program.
Victorian-funded Diphtheria booster vaccination campaign
• Primary course diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine
-
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 20 years who have not previously received 3 doses
• Booster doses diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine (Boostrix)
-
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 20 years, who have previously received at least 3 doses with the most recent dose > 10 years ago
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people travelling to a higher risk area* for any reason who have not had a booster dose in the last 5 years
- Anyone travelling to live or work in a higher risk area* who has not had a booster dose in the last 5 years
• *For the latest list of higher-risk areas, visit CDC Diphtheria Outbreak Update.
More information
• CHO Advisory: Diphtheria booster vaccination campaign | health.vic.gov.au
• Diphtheria Booster Vaccination Campaign - Information for the public
• About Diphtheria: Diphtheria | health.vic.gov.au
• Vaccination and recommendations: Australian Immunisation Handbook, Diphtheria
Ordering state-funded diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine
State-funded diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine, Boostrix, is now available to order via Onelink for Victorians who are eligible under the Victorian-funded Diphtheria booster vaccination campaign.
- Supply is available until exhausted. Order limits apply. Refer to your Onelink ordering template for more information.
- Providers requiring additional stock to meet demand are advised to contact the Immunisation Program at immunisation@health.vic.gov.au before submitting an order.
- Always include your government-funded (Onelink) account number when contacting the Immunisation Program or Onelink Customer Service.
Kind regards,
Immunisation Program
Community & Public Health Division
Department of Health
immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
www.health.vic.gov.au | www.vic.gov.au
RSV vaccine- update 2026
National Immunisation Program - Update
From 15 May 2026, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine Arexvy® will be funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for eligible older adults at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
Eligible populations
From 15 May 2026, a single dose of Arexvy® will be funded for:
- Adults aged 75 years and older
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 60–74 years
Dose schedule
- Currently, only a single dose of the RSV vaccine is recommended for older adults, and protection lasts at least 2 years.
- No booster dose is recommended for older adults vaccinated against RSV in 2025.
Clinical guidance
- Arexvy® may be given at the same visit as other vaccines for older adults, including COVID‑19, influenza (including adjuvanted influenza), pneumococcal and shingles vaccines.
- Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook and NCIRS RSV FAQs for clinical guidance.
- Australian Government resources for health professionals and consumers will be made available in the coming weeks.
- All Arexvy® vaccinations must be reported to the Australian Immunisation Register.
NOTE - Arexvy® vaccine is not registered for use in children.
Flu vaccine is available from 1/4/2026 at Premium Care Medical Centre St Albans and Sunshine North.
Identify NIP eligible patients: Free Flu Vaccine
Review your patient cohort in your health service and assess how many patients are:
• children aged six months to less than five years
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over
• pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
• people aged 6 months and over with certain medical risk conditions for severe influenza disease
• people aged 65 years and older.
Medical risk conditions covered under the NIP:
- Previous episode of invasive pneumococcal disease
- Functional or anatomical asplenia
- Immunocompromising conditions
- Proven or presumptive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak
- Chronic respiratory disease
- Chronic renal disease
- Cardiac disease
- Children born less than 28 weeks gestation
- Chromosomal abnormality.
Talk to your health professional about your eligibility for a free pneumococcal vaccine and if you or your children need additional vaccinations.