Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years are recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine every year

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years without a medical risk condition are recommended to receive an annual dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

An annual COVID-19 vaccine dose is funded through the National Immunisation Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years. For details see the National Immunisation Program schedule.

From 2021 to 2024, the mortality rate from and with COVID-19 among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55–64 years was similar to that of non-Indigenous people aged 65–74 years (45.3 per 100,000 population compared to 41.2 per 100,000 population),¹² supporting the need for vaccine recommendations for younger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, in comparison to non-Indigenous adults.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years with a medical risk condition – see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years with a medical risk condition (including severe immunocompromise) are recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine every year and can consider a 2nd annual dose.