Key information for providers: Capvaxive® vaccine supply and availability

August 12, 2026

Recent vaccine supply and distribution issues have caused temporary vaccine shortages of the Capvaxive® (pneumococcal) vaccine.

Providers should prioritise doses for:

  • eligible people who are due to receive a pneumococcal vaccine
  • people most at risk. 

The Pneumococcal Program remains ongoing, and eligible individuals will continue to have opportunities to receive vaccination as the distribution of the Capvaxive® vaccine stabilises.
 
Providers should ensure they have vaccine stock before booking patients for vaccination, including residential care facility clinics.
 
To support fair access to the vaccine and protect supply for those most at risk, temporary order limits are in place. Additional orders above allocated limits cannot be approved while supply remains limited.

At this time, Capvaxive® should only be administered to people currently eligible under the National Immunisation Program (NIP):

  • adults aged 65 years and over
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 25 years and over
  • adults aged 18 years and over with specified medical conditions that increase their risk of severe pneumococcal disease.

Eligible adults who have previously received another pneumococcal vaccine are recommended to receive Capvaxive® at least 12 months after their last pneumococcal vaccine dose.

Australian Immunisation Handbook Vaccine administration advice

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