Free under the NIP
Vaccinations after 65
Four vaccinations matter most once you turn 65, and most of them are free. Here is what you are entitled to and when to have it.
At a glance
| Free at 65 | Influenza, shingles, pneumococcal |
|---|---|
| Free at 75 | Adds RSV |
| Booking | Walk in, 7 days |
| Cost | Free if eligible under the NIP |
What changes at 65
Your immune system responds less strongly to infection as you age. That is why diseases most people shrug off in their forties send people in their seventies to hospital, and why the National Immunisation Program opens up several vaccinations at 65 that are not funded before then.
There are four to know about, plus COVID-19, which is free for every adult. All of them protect against a specific disease rather than a general idea of health, so we have set them out that way.
What you are entitled to, by age
| Protects against | Free from | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 65 years Free | Every year, ideally April or May |
| Shingles | 65 years Free | Two doses, once in your life |
| Pneumococcal disease | 65 years Free | Single dose for most people |
| RSV | 75 years Free | Generally a single dose |
| COVID-19 | All adults Free | Every 6 months from 75; at least every 12 months at 65 to 74 |
If you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, several of these start earlier: influenza from 6 months of age, shingles from 50, pneumococcal from 25, and RSV from 60. Tell us and we will apply the right schedule.
Why each one is on the list
Influenza
Influenza is far more dangerous after 65 than most people assume. It is not a heavy cold; it fills hospital beds every winter, and it can set off heart attacks and strokes in people who were managing well beforehand. Protection fades over months, so it has to be repeated annually. April or May suits Sydney: early enough to be covered before the season builds, late enough to hold through it.
Shingles
Shingles is the chickenpox virus reactivating decades after you first had it. The rash passes, but the nerve pain it leaves behind can last months and occasionally years, and it is genuinely debilitating. Risk climbs steeply with age. It is a two-dose course, given once, and free from 65.
Pneumococcal disease
The same bacterium causes pneumonia, blood infection and meningitis. Older adults are the group most likely to end up seriously unwell. From July 2026 the program was simplified: one dose now covers what used to take two different vaccinations, and the free age dropped from 70 to 65.
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus is known as a baby illness, but it hospitalises a lot of older adults every year, especially anyone with heart or lung disease. It became free at 75 in 2025. Between 60 and 74 you can have it, but you pay for it.
Having them here
All of our pharmacists are trained immunisers, so you do not need an appointment and you do not need to see your GP first. Walk in any day we are open, including Sunday, and we will take you into the consultation room. You stay in store fifteen minutes afterwards so we can keep an eye on you, and everything is reported to the Australian Immunisation Register so it appears on your immunisation history statement automatically.
If you are not sure what you have already had, we can look it up with you. If several are due, we will often do more than one in the same visit rather than making you come back.
Not sure whether you are eligible? Ring us on (02) 9660 1276 with your age and we will tell you in a minute.
Where this information comes from
Eligibility and timing on this page follow the National Immunisation Program Schedule and the Australian Immunisation Handbook, published by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, with recommendations set by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
- National Immunisation Program Schedule, at health.gov.au
- Australian Immunisation Handbook, at immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au
- NSW Immunisation Schedule, at health.nsw.gov.au
Programs change. We have written this to be plain and current, but the government pages are the authority, and your own eligibility depends on your age, your health and your vaccination history. Ask us and we will check it against the schedule with you rather than guess.
Common questions
Vaccinations for Over 65s: questions we get asked
Which vaccinations are free once I turn 65?
Influenza, shingles and pneumococcal are all free under the National Immunisation Program from age 65. COVID-19 vaccination is free for all adults regardless of age. Protection against RSV becomes free at 75. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible earlier for several of these.
How often do I need each one?
Influenza is annual, before winter. Shingles is a two-dose course, given once. Pneumococcal is a single dose for most people. RSV is generally a one-off dose. COVID-19 boosters are recommended every six months from 75, and at least every twelve months between 65 and 74.
Can I have more than one at the same visit?
Usually yes. Several of these can be given at the same appointment, which saves you a second trip. The pharmacist will confirm what is appropriate for you on the day.
I had a shingles vaccination years ago. Do I need the newer one?
Possibly. If you received the older shingles vaccine through the National Immunisation Program you generally need to wait five years before the current one is free. If you paid for it privately, different timing applies. Bring what you know of the date and we will work it out.
Is RSV vaccination free if I am under 75?
Not under the National Immunisation Program. Between 60 and 74, or from 50 with certain medical conditions, you can choose to have it but you pay for it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are eligible free from 60.
Do I need to bring anything?
Your Medicare card, and anything you have recording your past vaccinations. If you are unsure what you have had, we can look up your immunisation history statement with you.
Open 7 days
Walk in and ask for the pharmacist
Corner of Johnston and Booth Street, Annandale. Pharmacists available 7 days a week.