Aged-care workers
For residential aged-care, home-care and disability-services staff under the strengthened standards
Aged-care workers protect a population at the highest risk of severe outcomes from vaccine-preventable disease. Influenza and COVID-19 are the headline requirements; a full occupational baseline applies for clinical roles, and the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards make workforce vaccination an explicit provider obligation.
This page covers the requirements for direct-care staff in residential aged care and home care, plus disability-services workers who deliver personal care. If you're a nurse or allied-health professional in an aged-care setting, the hospital-healthcare requirements also apply.
What you need to demonstrate
Listed as immunity to demonstrate, not shots to receive — many adults have evidence of immunity already (from childhood vaccination, prior serology or AIR records) and need only the gaps filled.
Required
Annual influenza vaccination
Required for residential aged-care staff under the Aged Care Act and confirmed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission as a workforce expectation under Standard 7 of the strengthened standards. Must be current each influenza season; most providers verify in autumn before peak season.
Strongly recommended
COVID-19
Strongly recommended by ATAGI for aged-care workers, including six-monthly boosters for those at increased risk of severe COVID-19. Many providers still require currency via their own policy following the October 2025 revocation of the Secretary Direction.
Hepatitis B
Recommended for staff with potential blood or body-fluid exposure (showering, wound care, continence care). Three-dose course with post-vaccination serology.
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
Two documented doses or serology — particularly important for younger staff who may not have full childhood schedule documented on the AIR.
Whooping cough (dTpa)
Single adult dose every 10 years; important if you may visit a resident's family with newborns or work in mixed-age settings.
Varicella
Two doses or serology — protects you and prevents shingles reactivation transmission risk to residents.
Legal basis
The Aged Care Quality Standards (strengthened framework under the Aged Care Act 2024) require providers to deliver safe care, including evidence-based workforce immunisation. Standard 7 (Workforce) explicitly references the provider's responsibility to maintain workforce capability — vaccination currency is a core part of that. The Australian Government Department of Health Workforce vaccination guidance for aged-care providers sets out the practical expectations. Worksafe Victoria duty of care under the OHS Act 2004 also applies.
COVID-19 status (Victoria, October 2025)
The Secretary Direction mandating COVID-19 vaccination for aged-care workers was revoked in October 2025. However, ATAGI continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination and most aged-care providers maintain a mandatory or strongly-encouraged COVID-19 vaccination policy as part of their workforce expectations under the strengthened standards. Check with your employer.
What your employer needs to see
For every occupational requirement above, the accepted proof in Victoria is the same single document: your AIR Immunisation History Statement. You download it yourself and provide it to your employer — they do not access the Australian Immunisation Register directly.
- 1
Sign in to myGov
Visit my.gov.au and sign in (or create an account). Link the Medicare service if it isn't already linked.
- 2
Open the Australian Immunisation Register
From the Medicare service menu, open Immunisation history. Or download the Medicare Express Plus app and find the same screen there.
- 3
Download the Immunisation History Statement (PDF)
Click "View immunisation history statement" — a PDF generates with every dose, batch number, date and provider. Send this to your employer.
Ready to bring your record up to date?
Walk in, or book a guaranteed time online via Priceline's booking system.
What we do in one visit, what we refer
We're honest about where the pharmacy scope ends. Some checks (e.g. serology blood tests, post-exposure prophylaxis) need a GP, pathology service or hospital — and we'll tell you that on the day.
In one visit at our clinic
- Annual influenza vaccination on-site at our pharmacy or via an on-site workplace clinic at your facility (minimum 15 staff).
- COVID-19 boosters where ATAGI-recommended.
- Hepatitis B course, MMR catch-up (free for adults 20–59 in VIC), dTpa booster, varicella.
- Recording overseas vaccinations on the AIR ($25 service fee).
- For your residents: full on-site aged-care vaccination programs covering influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal, RSV and shingles, with the ACQSC-compliance pack provided afterwards.
Referred elsewhere
- Anti-HBs serology blood test — your GP or any pathology collection centre.
- Specific clinical assessments outside immunisation scope.
FAQs about aged care vaccinations
I work in residential aged care — is the flu shot still mandatory?
Yes. Residential aged-care providers are required to maintain a workforce with current seasonal influenza vaccination. Most providers verify in autumn before each peak season — typically March through May.
Does the strengthened aged care standards change what I personally need?
Not the vaccines themselves — but the provider's obligation to evidence workforce vaccination is now formally part of Standard 7. In practice, expect your employer to ask for proof more rigorously than before.
Do I need ongoing COVID-19 boosters?
ATAGI continues to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for aged-care workers, with boosters every six months for those at increased risk. Your employer's policy may make this mandatory regardless of the revoked Direction.
Can you come to my facility?
Yes. For facilities with 15+ staff we run on-site clinics. We provide an aged-care-specific compliance pack covering cold-chain, batch records, AIR confirmation and the workforce uptake report. Contact us with your headcount and preferred dates.
What about flu shots for my residents?
We deliver full on-site resident vaccination programs covering influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal, RSV and shingles, with consent, cold-chain and ACQSC-aligned documentation. See our Aged Care service page.
Sources and further reading
- Australian Immunisation Handbook — Vaccination for people at occupational risk
- Victorian Department of Health — Health-care worker immunisation
- Better Health Channel — Immunisation and the workplace
- Services Australia — Getting your Immunisation History Statement
- NCIRS — National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
General information only — not personal medical advice. Vaccines are described by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Your AHPRA-registered immuniser confirms what applies to you at the pre-vaccination screening.
Book your aged care appointment
Bring your AIR statement and any past records — we'll fill the gaps in one visit where we can.
Other occupations
All occupationsHospital and healthcare workers
For clinical staff in hospitals, GP clinics, allied health and community health
See requirementsChildcare and early childhood educators
For educators in long day care, family day care, kinder and OSHC — plus the No Jab No Play rule for children
See requirementsSchool staff
For teachers, support staff and casuals in primary, secondary and special-needs schools
See requirementsDisability and community-support workers
For NDIS support workers, group-home staff, supported-living and community-services workers
See requirementsPathology, laboratory and first responders
For pathology collectors, laboratory scientists, paramedics, fire and rescue, and police
See requirements