Vaccination still matters in adulthood
Dr Steph Davis
Chief Health Officer
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
First, a little about me
G’day everyone! I was proud to be appointed as the Department’s Chief Health Officer in August 2025 following the retirement of Professor Jenny Firman.
I am a General Practitioner and Public Health Physician with experience in clinical medicine, epidemiology and public health across many areas of Australia, and internationally.
I’m excited to be working for DVA and committed to improving the overall health and wellbeing of Australian veterans and families of veterans.
Although most Australians receive vaccines in childhood, protection doesn’t always last for life. Some diseases become more serious with age, and protection against a few conditions requires boosters or special vaccines later in life.
Vaccines protect you and also protect those around you – if you don’t get sick you can’t pass the infection on to anyone else. Four vaccines are particularly important for older Australians: influenza (the flu), COVID‑19, shingles, and pneumococcal disease. With winter approaching, now is a good time to get your annual flu shot and make sure your other vaccines are up to date as well.
Influenza (flu) is much worse than the common cold. On average, each year in Australia around 18,000 people end up in hospital and 3,500 die from the flu. People most likely to get severe flu include babies and young children (under 5 years old) and people aged 65 years and older.
The vaccine lowers your chances of catching the flu but also makes it much less likely that you will have to go to hospital or die from the flu. The flu vaccine is updated every year because protection fades and flu virus strains change, so you need a flu vaccine every year. With the flu season running from May to September, now is the best time to book your shot.
COVID‑19 continues to cause serious illness in our community, particularly in older adults. Vaccination remains an effective way to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death. Like the flu vaccine, the COVID vaccine provides some protection against getting sick, but even more protection against getting really sick – which means going to hospital, or even dying. Current recommendations advise annual vaccination for people aged 65 to 74, and a dose every 6 months for those aged 75 and over.
Shingles happens when the chickenpox virus reactivates later in life, causing a painful rash and sometimes long-term nerve pain. Without vaccination, around one in 3 people will develop shingles as they get older. There is also some early evidence that the shingles vaccine may help reduce the risk of dementia. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended to provide the best protection.
Pneumococcal infections can lead to pneumonia, bloodstream infections and meningitis. Older adults and people with certain medical conditions are most at risk. A pneumococcal vaccine later in life offers strong protection.
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) funds several vaccines for eligible Australian adults. Annual COVID vaccines are currently funded for everyone aged 18 and over. Everyone aged 65 and over can receive free flu vaccines and free shingles vaccines; everyone aged 70 and over can receive free pneumococcal vaccines.
When someone has a higher risk of severe disease, the NIP may fund the vaccine at a younger age. For example, adults who have a medical condition (such as bad asthma, heart or kidney disease) or another risk factor that puts them at higher risk of serious illness (including being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander) are eligible for a free flu vaccine at any age.
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people are also more likely to be at higher risk of severe shingles and pneumococcal disease and so can receive free vaccines for these conditions from the age of 50.
There are many places you can access vaccines, including from GPs, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and pharmacies. A lot of workplaces also offer vaccinations, particularly the flu vaccine.
What you’re eligible for as a veteran
If you have a medical condition where specific vaccines are recommended in the Australian Immunisation Handbook (the expert guidebook for vaccines in Australia), you may be eligible for DVA-funded vaccines beyond what is funded by the NIP. For example, DVA can fund the shingles vaccine at the age of 50 years and older if you have a Gold Card. The same applies where shingles infection would impact an accepted condition on your Veteran White Card.
A conversation with your doctor can help to work out what vaccines are recommended for you, and where indicated, your doctor can request DVA funding for vaccines under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Vaccination is a small step that provides big protection, especially as winter approaches. By staying up to date with your vaccinations, you’re not just helping yourself but also providing an ongoing service to your family and the Australian community.