Adults aged 18–64 years with a medical risk condition but who are not severely immunocompromised can consider COVID-19 vaccine every year

Adults aged 18–64 years with a medical risk condition but who are not severely immunocompromised can consider COVID-19 vaccine every year based on a risk-benefit assessment.

Risk-benefit considerations for vaccination may include:

• Age-related risk of COVID-19 and its complications: COVID-19 can occur at any age, but the risk of severe disease in adults increases with age.
• Presence of medical risk conditions that increase the individual’s risk of severe disease: Some medical conditions independently increase the risk of severe COVID-19 but to a lesser extent than age.¹³ Populations with medical risk conditions are heterogeneous due to highly variable risk estimates across the literature. People with certain underlying conditions associated with the highest risk may benefit from COVID-19 vaccination such as those with immunocompromising conditions,^19-35 cystic fibrosis, chromosomal abnormality and chronic neurological conditions.^13-15
• Potential risks associated with COVID-19 vaccination: Most adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are mild to moderate and self-limited. Very rare but serious adverse events such as myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported with the highest incidence amongst adolescent and young adult males after a 2nd mRNA vaccine dose.^6-8  
• Individual’s personal preferences: Personal attitudes towards preventing severe COVID-19 and related complications may influence decisions about vaccination. 

See Table. Example conditions associated with increased risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19.

NCIRS (National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance) publishes GRADE evidence assessments that support COVID-19 vaccination recommendations in Australia. View the COVID-19 vaccine GRADE assessments on the NCIRS website.