Although most Australian adults say they value staying up to date with recommended vaccinations, COVID 19 vaccine uptake tells a very different story.1-3 Over the past two years, vaccination rates have dropped sharply and now sit well below recommended levels.2,3 In December 2025, fewer than one in three adults aged 65–74 (26%) had received their recommended COVID 19 vaccination in the previous 12 months.2 Among those over 75, only 13% had been vaccinated in the past 6 months.2
These figures are particularly concerning given the significantly higher risk of hospitalisation, cardiovascular complications, cognitive and functional decline in people aged over 65.4-7
Join our experts as they discuss latest recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in older patients. This practice-wide quality improvement exercise will enable you to identify potential barriers to vaccine uptake and check your performance against evidence-based benchmarks.
There are two pathways for this program, one for GPs, and one for Practice staff (including practice managers, practice nurses and other relevant practice staff). Please ensure you select the right program for your position.
How long should it take?
This education is designed to take place over multiple weeks. It does not need to be completed in one sitting. You can stop at any time, and progress will be saved. You can find education you have started on your Dashboard.
Please select the revelant version for your profession:
GPs only
Practice staff
This program is supported by an independent medical education grant from Moderna.
COVID-19 program advisory and speakers
Prof Griffin is an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist, the Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, and conjoint Head of the Mater Clinical Unit for the University of Queensland School of Medicine. He is an accomplished clinical trial investigator, particularly in infectious diseases, including novel vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines. He also serves as a board member and scientific advisory board member of the Immunisation Coalition, becoming a trusted media authority and spokesperson nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Muñoz is a Melbourne-based GP dedicated to promoting the role of general practice in patient health and public health more broadly. She is Chair of the RACGP Victoria Council and an RACGP board member, has held advisory positions with the Victorian Department of Health and Safer Care Victoria, and has been a medical educator for over 12 years. She is particularly preoccupied with the wellbeing of general practice registrars, and of securing a high-quality general practice workforce for the future.
References
- Lung Foundation Australia. Vital vaccines for Australian adults. https://lungfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/LFA-2024-Vital-vaccines-for-Australian-adults-summary-report.pdf. Accessed Feb 2026.
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. COVID-19 vaccination rollout update. January 2026. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/covid-19-vaccination-rollout-update. Accessed Feb 2026.
- Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care homes. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/covid-19-outbreaks-in-australian-residential-aged-care-homes-17-october-2025.pdf. Accessed Oct 2025.
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Groups at higher risk from COVID-19 https://www.health.gov.au/topics/covid-19/protect-yourself-and-others/high-risk-groups. Accessed Feb 2026.
- Vidal-Perez R et al. Cardiovascular disease and COVID-19, a deadly combination: A review about direct and indirect impact of a pandemic. World Journal of Clinical Cases. 2022;10(27):9556-9572.
- Largent J, et al. Cognitive and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in COVID-19: analysis of person-generated longitudinal health data from a community-based registry. BMJ Open. 2023;13(6): e069118.
- Alghamdi F et al. Bone Mineral Density, Bone Biomarkers, and Joints in Acute, Post, and Long COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Viruses. 2024;16(11):1694.
Learning outcomes
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