We don’t know yet.<\/p>\n
And we may not know until the last week of September, according to Pharmaceutical Society of Australia vaccination ambassador and community pharmacist Julianna Neill.<\/p>\n
That’s because conversations are still ongoing with manufacturers about what the wholesale price for Australia will be.<\/p>\n
“Normally we go from knowing what a private vaccination cost is going to be, and then it becomes free,” Ms Neill says.<\/p>\n
“We’ve never really been in this situation before.”<\/p>\n
Australians typically pay between $25 and $35 for their annual flu jab, but Ms Neill anticipates the COVID-19 vaccine will cost “significantly more”.<\/p>\n
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It’s not yet clear how much the COVID-19 vaccine will cost. (Unsplash: CDC<\/a>)<\/p>\n Why is the COVID-19 vaccine rollout changing?<\/p>\n COVID-19 vaccines, previously funded under the National COVID-19 Vaccine Program<\/a>, are moving to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) where they will sit alongside respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza vaccines.<\/p>\n “This reflects the shift from an emergency pandemic response to a long-term, routine program focused on protecting people at highest risk of severe illness,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, vaccines were made available at no cost to reach as many people as possible but are now being targeted at those most vulnerable.<\/p>\n Pfizer is still the primary supplier of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines. (Supplied: WA Health)<\/p>\n Jodie McVernon, director of epidemiology at the Doherty Institute, believes this may make the vaccine more accessible for high-risk groups already rolling up their sleeves for other jabs.<\/p>\n “Including it with the whole package should actually increase coverage by raising awareness, and make it a normal, regular seasonal event,” Professor McVernon says.<\/p>\n Will this mean a lower vaccine update?<\/p>\n Potentially.<\/p>\n COVID-19 vaccination rates have been dropping in recent years.<\/p>\n So far this year, 1.7 million people in Australia have received the COVID-19 vaccine<\/a>, about 6 per cent of the population, compared to 8.9 million people who have had the flu jab.<\/p>\n Ms Neill says there may be a slight decline in vaccination rates following the introduction of a fee, as cost can be a barrier.<\/p>\n But instead of looking at Australia’s overall vaccination rate, Professor McVernon says it is important to focus on vaccination rates in high-risk groups.<\/p>\n “The main burden of disease for COVID is in the over-75s, we actually see more COVID deaths than flu deaths,” she says.<\/p>\n “But not even 40 per cent of people in that age group get the [COVID-19] vaccine.”<\/p>\n Will this mean more COVID-19 cases?<\/p>\n It’s hard to say.<\/p>\n Over the past few years, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 in Australia has decreased.<\/p>\n But Immunisation Coalition chairman Rod Pearce says many cases are not reported, which means the true number of infections is likely to be much higher.<\/p>\n Dr Pearce says there may be more COVID-19 cases if fewer people are vaccinated and more SARS\u2011CoV\u20112 is circulating.<\/p>\n Professor McVernon says the decline in the number of hospitalisations and deaths over time is a “good indication” the health burden from COVID-19 isn’t as significant as it once was.<\/p>\n “We see successive waves year-on-year, and over time, as the population becomes more immune through repeated exposure and vaccination, the infections we see overall are less severe.”<\/p>\n Any other health advice?<\/p>\n If you want a COVID-19 booster but you’re not eligible for a free jab, now is the time to contact your local clinic as changes won’t come in until October 1.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/40e0ef87ac13802c6095fd86901d305c.jpeg\")
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