Do kids still need the COVID-19 vaccine in Australia?

If you're a parent wondering if you should have your child vaccinated against COVID-19, you might have jumped online to find out.

It can be confusing — advice has changed throughout the pandemic, and not all information online is up to date.

So what are the current recommendations for children and the COVID-19 vaccine, and how should you stay across any changes?

Is the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for children?

The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently recommended for "healthy children", explains Daryl Cheng, an associate professor and immunisation consultant at Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community (SAEFVIC).

"But if they have other medical comorbidities, such as immunocompromised, it should be considered."

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advises the Minister for Health and Aged Care on the National Immunisation Program and other immunisation issues.

The latest ATAGI statement on the administration of further doses of COVID-19 vaccines was updated in February 2024. For those children who have previously received COVID-19 immunisation, it says:

• Individuals with severe immunocompromise aged five to 17 years can consider a dose every 12 months.
• Individuals without severe immunocompromise aged five to 17 years are not recommended to receive further doses.
• Individuals less than five years are not recommended to receive further doses.

This information is also reflected on the Department of Health and Aged Care website and the government's Immunisation Handbook.

Dr Cheng says for children who have never had a COVID-19 vaccine (also known as their primary course vaccination):

• Individuals aged six months to 17 years with severe immunocompromise are recommended to receive a primary course (one or two doses depending on age), and can consider further doses after a risk-benefit assessment completed by a health professional such as a GP.
• Individuals aged six months to 17 years with medical conditions that increase their risk of COVID-19 (other than severe immunocompromise — such as severe asthma or congenital heart disease) can receive a primary course (one or two doses depending on age) after a risk-benefit assessment.
• Individuals aged six months to 17 years with no conditions that increase their risk of COVID-19 are not recommended to receive a primary dose.

Whether or not the COVID-19 vaccination is suitable for your child should be discussed with your GP, says Dr Meru Sheel, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Sydney.

"It's also a good [chance] to chat to your GP about whether your child is up to date for routine childhood vaccinations as we have had a drop in Australia."

Why COVID-19 vaccination advice has changed over time

There are three key reasons why recommendations for children and the COVID-19 vaccination have changed with time, says Dr Cheng:

• The Australian population level of immunity conferred by vaccines in 2024 (given that many people have been vaccinated over the course of the past few years) provides a level of herd immunity that was not there before vaccines became widely available.
• The natural immunity conferred from infection in 2024 (many Australians have had COVID-19 at least once) also provides a level of herd immunity for the overall Australian population.
• We better understand the risk-benefit assessment for different age groups in the population than we did at the start of the pandemic. This includes understanding transmission as well as latest understanding that the risk of severe disease in infants is different to that of older children — and that overall, childhood risk is much lower than that of older adults — hence this influences recommendations for a vaccine that is primarily designed not to prevent the illness, but to reduce chance of severe disease.

Staying informed

Both Dr Cheng and Dr Sheel recommend staying across the ATAGI recommendations, but say speaking to your GP will help you make the right decisions for your family.

"The biggest thing underpinning the current recommendations is these vaccines are particularly helpful to prevent severe disease," Dr Cheng says.

"Going into winter season, respiratory viruses such as [COVID-19 and] the flu are a whole lot more common."

Dr Sheel says it's important parents consider other vaccinations including for RSV and whooping cough for eligible children.

This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history.