National Immunisation Program Australia provides routine childhood immunisations recommended for all children in Australia free of charge. This helps to protect them from the most serious childhood and life-threatening infections. Some children and adults with medical conditions may require extra vaccines. Speak to your doctor to check on your child’s requirements and eligibility.

In addition to the standard vaccines, all children and adults are recommended to receive the annual influenza vaccine for protection against Influenza infections. Children under the age of 5 years, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Seniors over 65 years and those with certain medical conditions are financially covered under the National Immunisation Program for this vaccine.

Talk to your practice nurse or doctor if you have any queries about your or your family's immunisations.

Routine vaccinations include:

At Birth

Hepatitis- B [Engerix B Paeds]

Protect against hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B virus can cause long-term liver damage and cirrhosis. This vaccine is routinely given in the hospital before discharge; however, infants are eligible for catch-up up to 7 days of age.

RSV Vaccine [Beyfortus]

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. RSV infection can cause severe disease, particularly in very young and older people. All children are eligible to receive this vaccine up to 8 months of age.

2 & 4 months

1 - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b [Infanrix Hexa / Vaxelis] -A single vaccine

Diphtheria - a serious bacterial infection that can obstruct the airways leading to respiratory distress.

Pertussis / whooping cough - a serious disease of the airways. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death. It is especially serious for babies.

Tetanus Toxoid - a serious disease that causes severe muscle spasms.

Hib – Protect against Haemophilus influenza type B that can cause life-threatening pneumonia and meningitis.

Polio - Protect against polio or poliomyelitis. It is a viral infection that can cause paralysis and death.

Hepatitis B - Protect against hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B virus can cause long-term liver damage and cirrhosis.

2 - Prevenar13

Pneumococcal is caused by bacterial infections that can especially affect young children and elderly people. It can cause serious infections like pneumonia, septicaemia [blood infections] and meningitis [brain infections]

3 - Rotarix

An oral vaccine that protects against rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants. This virus infection can cause severe life-threatening diarrhea and dehydration requiring hospitalisation.

4 - Bexsero

Protects against strain B of meningococcal disease. It can cause life-threatening meningitis and death that can develop quickly and require urgent hospitalisation. Given as 2 doses 2 months apart in first year of life and a 3rd dose in 2nd after turned 1 year.

6 months

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b [Infanrix Hexa / Vaxelis] -A single vaccine

Details as above

12 months

MMR II / Priorix

Measles - A highly contagious viral infection that causes fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis and a unique skin rash. It can be a serious infection that needs hospital admission and can cause death.

Mumps- A virus infection that causes fever, swelling and painful salivary glands.

Rubella - Rubella is a viral infection that can cause a skin rash and fever. It could be serious if pregnant women are affected by the virus as it can affect unborn babies.

MMR is a LIVE vaccine. NOT recommended for immunocompromised children

Nimenrix

Protects against four strains of meningococcal disease, ACWY. They can cause life-threatening meningitis and death that can develop quickly and require urgent hospitalisation.

Prevenar13

Pneumococcal is caused by bacterial infections that can especially affect young children and elderly people. It can cause serious infections like pneumonia, septicaemia [blood infections] and meningitis [brain infections]

Bexsero - 3rd dose 

Protects against strain B of meningococcal disease. It can cause life-threatening meningitis and death that can develop quickly and require urgent hospitalisation.

18 months

1 - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) [Infanrix]

Diphtheria - a serious bacterial infection that can obstruct the airways that can lead to respiratory distress.

Pertussis / whooping cough - a serious disease of the airways. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death. It is especially serious for babies.

Tetanus Toxoid - a serious disease that causes severe muscle spasms.

2 - Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella [Priorix Tetra / ProQuad]

Measles - A highly contagious viral infection that causes fever, cough, coryza, conjunctivitis and a unique skin rash. It can be a serious infection that needs hospital admission and can cause death.

Mumps - A virus infection that causes fever, swelling and painful salivary glands.

Rubella - Rubella is a viral infection that can cause a skin rash and fever. It could be serious if pregnant women are affected by the virus as it can affect unborn babies.

Varicella - Protects against chickenpox which is a highly contagious viral infection. It is usually a mild disease that does not last long in children. It can be more severe in adults, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised.

The MMRV vaccine is a LIVE vaccine. NOT recommended for immuno-compromised children.

3 - Haemophilus influenzae type b [Act-HIB]

Protects against Haemophilus influenza type B which can cause life-threatening pneumonia and meningitis.

4 years

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis , polio [Infanrix IPV / Quadracel]

Diphtheria - a serious bacterial infection that can obstruct the airways that can lead to respiratory distress.

Pertussis / whooping cough - a serious disease of the airways. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death. It is especially serious for babies.

Tetanus Toxoid - a serious disease that causes severe muscle spasms.

Polio - Protect against polio or poliomyelitis. It is a viral infection that can cause paralysis and death.

School-age

1 - Human papillomavirus -HPV- [Gardasil 9]

Protect against the Human Papillomavirus that can be sexually transmitted. This virus can cause cervical cancers. Usually vaccinated during school ages 12 –13 years for free. If someone missed the vaccine in school, they could have it for free up to 26 years of age.

2 - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis [Boostrix / Adacel]

Diphtheria - a serious bacterial infection that can obstruct the airways that can lead to respiratory distress.

Pertussis / whooping cough - a serious disease of the airways. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death.

Tetanus Toxoid - a serious disease that causes severe muscle spasms.

This vaccine is given routinely at schools between 12-13 years of age.

3 - Meningococcal ACWY [Nimenrix / MenQuadfi]

Protects against four strains of meningococcal disease, ACWY. They can cause life-threatening meningitis and death that can develop quickly and require urgent hospitalisation. This vaccine is routinely given at school between14-16 years of age.

If your child has missed any school vaccines, they are still eligible to receive them with their GP and Practice Nurse.

CHILDREN

In addition to scheduled vaccines, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children need to have hepatitis A Pneumovax23 and an additional Prevenar 13 vaccines.

Hepatitis A Vaccine [Vaqta]

Hepatitis A is a mild to severe acute viral infection that affects the liver. It is transmitted primarily through contaminated food and water or another infectious person. It causes joint aches and pains, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever, among other symptoms. Hepatitis A is highly contagious. This vaccine is given at 18 months of age and 4 years.

Pneumococcal Vaccine [Pneumovax23]

Pneumococcal is caused by bacterial infections that can especially affect young children and elderly people. It can cause serious infections like pneumonia, septicaemia [blood infections] and meningitis [brain infections]. This vaccine is given in 2 doses. The first dose at 4 years of age with the 2nd given 5 years later.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

[Prevenar 13]

Pneumococcal is caused by bacterial infections that can especially affect young children and elderly people. It can cause serious infections like pneumonia, septicaemia [blood infections] and meningitis [brain infections]. This is an additional 3rd dose for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander children at 6 months of age.

ADULTS 50 YEARS AND OVER

Shingles Vaccine [Shingrix]

The previous Zostavax vaccine is now replaced with Shingrix vaccine. It is a 2-dose vaccine to give better and stronger protection against the Herpes Virus (Shingles). Shingles infection can cause debilitating chronic pain if infected in older persons. This vaccine is given from the age of 50 years.

Pneumococcal [Prevenar 13 & Pneumovax 23]

Administer a dose of Prevenar 13 first and then followed by first dose of Pneumovax 23 a year later (2–12 months acceptable), then second dose of Pneumovax 23 at least 5 years later.

Immunisation in senior people is vital to protect them from serious diseases.

Annual Influenza vaccine

For the protection of Influenza infection which can require hospitalisation for our older persons.

Free for adults aged 65 and over.

Prevenar13

Pneumococcal is caused by bacterial infections that can especially affect young children and elderly people. It can cause serious infections like pneumonia, septicaemia [blood infections] and meningitis [brain infections]. Free for adults aged 70 and over.

Shingrix

The previous Zostavax vaccine is now replaced with Shingrix vaccine. It is a 2-dose vaccine to give better and stronger protection against the Herpes Virus (Shingles). Shingles infection can cause debilitating chronic pain if infected in older persons.

Free for adults aged 65 and over.

COVID-19 Vaccine

All adults over the age of 75 are recommended to have COVID-19 vaccine every 6 months. All adults over 65-74 are recommended to have it every 12 months. Note: Talk with your GP to check the closest COVID vaccine provider.

Boostrix / Adacel

For protection against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough. It is recommended to have a booster dose for adults over 65 if they have not had it in the previous 10 years. NOTE: Not Government funded. Private cost.

Arexvy / Abrysvo

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. RSV infection can cause severe disease, particularly in very young and older people. Adults are eligible to receive from the age of 60 years and are especially recommended to receive from the age of 75 years. NOTE: Not Government funded. Private cost.

Vaccination during pregnancy is important to protect both the mother and the baby from certain infections.

Influenza vaccine

All pregnant Mothers are recommended to receive the annual influenza vaccine for protection for herself and bub. This can be given at any stage of the pregnancy. This vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program.

Boostrix / Adacel

For protection against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough. It is recommended to have a booster with each pregnancy to introduce antibodies to bub. It is given between 20 – 32 weeks gestation for optimal protection. This vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program.

Arexvy / Abrysvo

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. RSV infection can cause severe disease, particularly in very young and older people. Pregnant Mothers are recommended to receive between 28-36 weeks gestation for optimal protection of bub. This vaccine is currently at private cost; however, will be Government funded in 2025 (Date of commencement still to be advised from the Australian Government).

When travelling outside of Australia there is the risk of exposure to various infections that are not common in Australia. To protect yourself and reduce the risk of bringing infections back into the country, there are certain vaccines recommended. Immunisation is advised to commence 6-12 weeks before leaving the country.

Different countries and continents have their specific infectious diseases to cover. Talk to your Doctor or Practice Nurse to find out which vaccines you need to cover the specific infection risk.

The cost of travel vaccines is Private. Not covered by the National Immunisation Program.

Common travel vaccines:

· Hepatitis A & B

· Typhoid

· Cholera

· Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis

· Polio

· Rabies

· Japanese encephalitis

· Yellow fever

Malaria prophylaxis – Tablets