What you need to know about the Australian COVID Vaccination Policy as an expat in Australia

Making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to all Australians is a key priority of the Australian, State and Territory governments. But what does this mean to expats staying in Australia?

The Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (Policy) outlines the approach to providing COVID-19 vaccines in Australia. It sets out key principles, such as that COVID-19 vaccines will be made available for free to all Australian citizens, permanent residents, and most visa-holders. Further, it outlines how COVID-19 vaccines will be accessible on a rolling basis, dependent on vaccine delivery schedules and the identification of groups for most urgent vaccination.

Who is covered by this policy?

The COVID-19 vaccination will be free for all Medicare-eligible Australians and all visa-holders excluding the following:

excluding visa sub-classes 771 (Transit)
600 (Tourist stream)
651 (eVisitor)
601 (Electronic Travel Authority).

In terms of preliminary priority population groups, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) identified the top three priority for the vaccination which are:

Those who are at increased risk of exposure and hence being infected with and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to others at risk of severe disease or are in a setting with high transmission potential. This includes health and aged care workers; other care workers, including disability support workers; and people in other settings where the risk of virus transmission is increased, which may include quarantine workers.
Those who have an increased risk, relative to others, of developing severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19 including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, older people and people with underlying select medical conditions.
Those working in services critical to societal functioning including select essential services personnel and other key occupations required for societal functioning.

For further information about the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, you may download the Australian Government Policy here.