Help protect aged care residents this festive season
With the introduction of the new Aged Care Act on 1 November 2025 and the festive season approaching, the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care is encouraging general practitioners to support COVID-19 vaccination uptake in residential aged care.
The Department has released key messaging to help increase awareness of vaccination recommendations and provider responsibilities under the new legislation.
Why this matters
Vaccines remain the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation in older people. Residential aged care homes are communal environments where infections can spread rapidly. Ensuring residents and staff are up to date with their vaccinations is critical to protecting vulnerable populations—especially during the festive season, when COVID-19 cases typically rise.
What’s changed under the new Aged Care Act
From 1 November 2025, the new Aged Care Act 2024 strengthens the requirement for residential aged care providers to provide access to recommended vaccinations for residents. This includes influenza, COVID-19, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, in line with the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule.
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
COVID-19 vaccines are free and recommended:
Every 6 months for people aged 75 and over
Every 12 months for people aged 65 to 74
Every 12 months for adults who are severely immunocompromised
Vaccination is still recommended even if the person has recently had COVID-19.
How GPs can support
GPs play a vital role in:
Advising aged care residents and their families about vaccine eligibility and timing
Supporting aged care providers to plan and deliver vaccination clinics
Ensuring timely consent and access to immunisation services
Encouraging staff and visitors to stay up to date with their vaccinations
GPs can also assist aged care facilities in accessing the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to track vaccination status and ensure accurate reporting.