Our adult vaccination program needs a shot in the arm

As many of us lift our sleeves for our annual flu vaccination, it’s time to consider the other preventable diseases we are at risk of, and what immunisations can help protect us.
 
Australia has a proud history of using our National Immunisation Program (NIP) to protect the health of our children.
 
Nine out of 10 Australian children aged two years are fully immunised against diseases such as measles, polio and rubella. It’s a brilliant childhood program that is the envy of many countries around the world.
 
Yet, as the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, infectious diseases can also have catastrophic consequences for the health of adults.
 
Better access to vaccinations for adults
This is a subject that is important to me – I treat adults all the time for infectious diseases that could be prevented if vaccines were more accessible. Shingles is a common preventable disease that comes immediately to mind.
 
About one in three Australians risk getting shingles in their lifetime.
 
It is a terrible disease that typically produces a painful rash, and while in most cases shingles resolves and people recover, for some it can lead to ongoing complications.
 
I’ve had patients who have suffered with debilitating nerve pain as a result of shingles for months or even years and have also seen patients with the shingles rash involving their eyes leading to vision issues. 
 
Yet, most cases of shingles can be prevented by people being vaccinated.
 
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends that Australians aged 50 years and over be vaccinated against shingles. However, shingles vaccination is currently only free under the NIP for immunocompetent adults aged 70 years (catch-up vaccination is also available for adults aged 71–79 years until 31 October 2023).
 
Several vaccines and boosters recommended by clinical experts are ‘private script’ only. This means that lower-income Australians may not be able to afford them, especially with the rising cost of living. People with lower education and health literacy may not be aware of the need for vaccination as they age.
 
These barriers are particularly the case for those living in regional and remote areas of Australia.
 
Supporting Australians to age well
Preventive healthcare shouldn’t be seen as a luxury.
 
Today, around nine million Australians are aged over 50 years, while nearly half of our total population are living with a chronic condition. We’re living longer than ever before, but living longer does not mean we are ageing well.
 
Reforming the NIP to protect older Australians from disease has the potential to be the shot in the arm Australia’s health system needs.
 
Governments can work with the health sector to increase investment in innovative vaccines and deliver better access through a redesigned NIP focused on older adults.
 
By drawing on the success of the childhood immunisation experience and developing pathways to support greater access to vaccines, we can help all Australians access the latest innovations in disease prevention and keep people living well for longer.
 
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National Immunisation Program NIP shingles vaccination