Australia's rate of immunisation is steadily increasing following the implementation of the Australian Government funded National Immunisation Program (NIP) which began in 1997. The NIP Schedule currently includes vaccines against a total of 16 diseases and provides vaccination funding for:
Jan 2024 - change to NIP with regards to shingles1
Child Programs
| Age | Vaccine |
|
Birth |
Hepatitis B (hepB)a |
|
2 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirusb |
|
4 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) |
|
6 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) |
|
6 months to <5 years (annually) |
Influenza |
|
12 months |
Meningococcal ACWY |
|
18 months |
Haemophilus influenzae type b Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough) (DTPa) Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) |
|
4 years |
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough) inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (DTPa-IPV) |
School Programs
In-school vaccinations for year 7-10 students
| Age | Vaccine |
|
Year 7 or 8 (11-13 years of age) |
Human papillomavirus (HPV)c Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) (dTpa) |
|
Year 10 (14-16 years of age)1 |
Meningococcal ACWY |
Older Adults
| Age | Vaccine |
|
65 years and over (annually) |
Influenza |
|
65 years and over (non-Indigenous adults)d |
Shingles (herpes zoster)j |
|
70 and over (non-Indigenous adults) |
Pneumococcal (13vPCV) |
At-risk groups
|
Age |
Risk Group |
Vaccine |
|
2 months |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
Meningococcal B |
|
4 months |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
Meningococcal B |
|
6 months
|
Medically at risk |
Pneumococcal (13vPCV) |
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (QLD, NT, SA, WA) |
||
|
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders with specified medical conditions |
Additional Meningococcal B dose |
|
|
≥ 6 months (annually) |
Medically at risk |
Influenza |
|
< 12 months |
Medically at risk |
Pneumococcalh |
|
12 months |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
Meningococcal B |
|
≥ 12 months |
Medically at risk |
Pneumococcalg |
|
18 months |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (QLD, NT, SA, WA) |
Hepatitis A |
|
4 years |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (QLD, NT, SA, WA) |
Pneumococcal (23vPCV) Hepatitis A |
|
≥ 5 years |
Medically at risk |
Haemophilus influenzae type b |
|
≥ 5 years (annually) |
Children with specified medical risk condition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children |
Influenza |
|
≥50 years |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander |
Pneumococcalg Shingles (herpes zoster)i |
|
Any age |
Specific medical conditions |
Meningococcal B Meningococcal ACWY |
|
Any age |
Pregnancy |
Influenza Pertussis (whooping cough) |
|
Any age |
Adolescents and adults with specified medical risk condition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents and adults |
Influenza (annually) Pneumococcalg |
Footnotes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule
a. Hepatitis B: vaccine should be given to all infants as soon as practicable after birth. The greatest benefit is if given within 24 hours, and must be given within 7 days.
b. Rotavirus vaccine: First dose must be given by 14 weeks of age, the second dose by 24 weeks of age.
c. HPV vaccine: 2 doses 6-12 months apart and 3 doses required >15yrs and/or certain medical conditions.
d. With a five year catch-up program for people aged 71-79 years old until 31 October 2023.
e. Administer first dose of 23vPPV at age 4 years, followed by second dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years later.
f. Single dose recommended each pregnancy, ideally between 28-32 weeks, but may be given up until delivery.
g. Administer a dose of 13vPCV, followed by first dose of 23vPPV 12 months later (2-12 month acceptable), then second dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years later after the 1st dose of 23vPPV.
h. Administer a dose of 13vPCV at 6 months of age, followed by a dose of 23vPPV at 4 years of age, then second dose of 23vPPV at least 5 years later after the 1st dose of 23vPPV.
Sources & Citations
- Australian Government Department of Health. National Immunisation Program Schedule. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-immunisation-program-schedule?language=en. Accessed January 2024.
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). Australian Immunisation Handbook. Available at: immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au. Accessed January 2024.
- ACT Health Immunisation Schedule. July 2020. Available at: https://www.health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/Immunisation%20-%20schedule.pdf. Accessed January 2024.
- NSW Immunisation Schedule. October 2023. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/publications/nsw-immunisation-schedule.pdf. Accessed January 2024.
- Queensland Government Vaccination Matters. Children and adolescents (10 to 19 years of age), August 2023. Available at: https://www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/who-should-get-vaccinated-and-when/children-and-adolescents#section_vaccination-schedule. Accessed January 2024.
- National Immunisation Program Novemeber 2023 South Australia Schedule. Available at: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/867a5f004dda2d17a7dcff6d722e1562/CDCB_National +Immunisation+Schedule_Nov2023.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-867a5f004dda2d17a7dcff6d722e1562-oK5U6zN. Accessed January 2024.
- Tasmanian Government. Funded Immunisation Schedule Tasmania. Available at: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/funded_immunisation_schedule_tas_nov_2023.pdf. Accessed January 2024.
- Immunisation schedule Victoria and vaccine eligibility criteria. November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/immunisation-schedule-victoria-and-vaccine-eligibility-criteria#immunisation-schedule-victoria. Accessed January 2024.
- Western Australian Immunisation Schedule. November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/Corporate/general-documents/Immunisation/PDF/WA-Immunisation-Schedule.pdf. Accessed January 2024.
- NT Immunisation Schedule - November 2023. Children and Adolescents. Available at: https://health.nt.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1202762/nt-immunisation-children-and-adolescents-schedule.pdf. Accessed January 2024.
- Cancer Council. How to get the HPV vaccine. Available at: https://www.hpvvaccine.org.au/hpv-vaccine/how-to-get-the-hpv-vaccine. Accessed January 2024.
MAT-AU-2301586 v1.2. Date of preparation 25 January 2024.
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