{"id":883902,"date":"2026-09-08T01:54:25","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T01:54:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/883902\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T01:54:25","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T01:54:25","slug":"covid-vaccine-changes-who-pays-from-october-1-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/883902\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid vaccine changes: Who pays from October 1 in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Covid vaccine will soon no longer be free for all, but doctors are warning Australians <\/a>not to let the move lessen their concern about the potentially deadly virus.<\/p>\n

From 1 October, Covid-19 vaccines will be funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), \u2013 which is Australia\u2019s established program for nationally funded vaccines \u2013 replacing the stand-alone National Covid-19 Vaccine Program (NCVP) established during Australia\u2019s Covid-19 pandemic response.<\/p>\n

Under the NIP, funded Covid-19 vaccines will no longer be available as a universal program. Instead, states and territories will manage ordering, distribution, reporting and program support for Covid-19 vaccines under the NIP, in line with routine processes used for other NIP vaccines. <\/p>\n

See how the changes impact you below.<\/p>\n

WHO WILL STILL GET THE VACCINE FOR FREE?<\/p>\n

Free Covid-19 vaccines will be available for certain groups<\/p>\n

All adults aged 75 years and over (one dose every 6 months) <\/p>\n

All adults aged 65\u201374 years (one dose every 12 months) <\/p>\n

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50\u201374 years (one dose every 12 months)<\/p>\n

All adults aged 18 years and over with severe immunocompromise (one dose every 12 months). <\/p>\n

Australians not eligible for the free vaccine that want it will have to pay.<\/p>\n

WHY IS THE CHANGE HAPPENING?<\/p>\n

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said Australia\u2019s Covid-19 \u201ccontext has changed\u201d.
\u201cThe NCVP was established under emergency arrangements to support broad access to Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic response when most people had little or no immunity against the disease. Covid-19 is now endemic in Australia and continues to disproportionately affect certain populations. <\/p>\n

\u201cBased on current evidence and the changed epidemiology, the vaccination program will focus on maintaining protection against severe Covid-19 in those most at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

HOW SERIOUS IS COVID IN AUSTRALIA?<\/p>\n

About 62,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported across Australia so far this year.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s compared to 185,000 in 2025, and more than 10 million in the pandemic\u2019s peak in 2022.<\/p>\n

WHAT DO DOCTORS THINK?<\/p>\n

Doctors say the change was \u201cinevitable\u201d but it should not lessen serious concerns about the virus.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to handle the commentary really carefully and make sure that people don\u2019t see this as a sign that Covid is less important, or less of a concern, because it\u2019s definitely not the case and not the intention,\u201d Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, told newsGP.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen people from my practice in hospital due to Covid and unfortunately not survive, not that long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

IS THERE REASON TO BE CONCERNED?<\/p>\n

The GP and Immunisation Coalition has expressed concern that the lack of consistency between state and territories around vaccine distribution may make it challenging to ensure vaccines are available to the right people when needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one of the ironies about Covid; the Commonwealth showed it could put vaccines directly into our fridges,\u201d Chair Dr Rodney Pearce said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the states do the same thing all around the country that would be good, but the states do different things, so you\u2019ve just added a level of complexity and you\u2019re adding some resistance or hesitancy because it\u2019s not the same advice everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Covid vaccine will soon no longer be free for all, but doctors are warning Australians not 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