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Children
Children
As children grow, their immunity to some diseases may decrease. Learn more about childhood diseases and how you can help protect your child.
The Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) outlines a series of free immunisations given at specific times throughout your life. In addition to these vaccines, there are a number of other vaccines that are recommended by experts but need to be paid for out of pocket. Some vaccines are also provided for free through your State or Territory Health Department.
Click on the diseases below and speak to your doctor to learn more about the immunisation schedule and recommendations.
- Immunisation funded via the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- Immunisation recommended by experts but is not funded
- Immunisation funded via the NIP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and/or medically at-risk children
- Immunisation recommended by experts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and/or medically at-risk children but is not funded
Many of the individual immunisations listed in the schedule below are available in combined immunisations to reduce the number of injections.
| Diseases | Birth | 2 months | 4 months | 6 months | 12 months | 18 months | 4 years | 10 to <15 years | 15-19 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickenpox (varicella) | |||||||||
| A second dose of varicella vaccine is recommended any time between 4 years of age and less than 14 years, at least 4 weeks after the first dose. Speak to your doctor to learn more. | |||||||||
| Diphtheria | |||||||||
| Hepatitis A | |||||||||
| Two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine are recommended and NIP-funded for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at 12 months and 18 months living in certain areas. A two-dose schedule (which is not funded) is also recommended for some medically at-risk children and adolescents. Speak to your doctor to learn more. | |||||||||
| Hepatitis B | |||||||||
| An additional booster vaccine is recommended at 12 months of age for preterm infants who were born at less than 32 weeks gestation or whose birth weight was under 2000 grams. Speak to your doctor to learn more. | |||||||||
| Haemophilus influenzae type b |
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| Human Papillomavirus | |||||||||
| Measles | |||||||||
| Meningococcal ACWY disease | |||||||||
| The meningococcal ACWY vaccine is strongly recommended (but not funded) for children less than 2 years of age, adolescents (15 - 19 years), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (2 months - 19 years), and those aged at or above 2 months with certain medical conditions. A free dose is given at 12 months of age. For anyone wishing to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease the vaccine is recommended if their doctor deems it appropriate. Speak to your doctor to learn more or see who is most at risk of meningococcal disease here. | |||||||||
| Meningococcal B disease | |||||||||
| The meningococcal B vaccine is strongly recommended (but not funded) for children less than 2 years of age, adolescents (15 - 19 years), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (2 months - 19 years), and those aged at or above 2 months with certain medical conditions. For anyone wishing to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease the vaccine is recommended if their doctor deems it appropriate. Speak to your doctor to learn more or see who is most at risk of meningococcal disease here. | |||||||||
| Mumps | |||||||||
| Pneumococcal disease | |||||||||
| An additional dose of pneumococcal vaccine is recommended and NIP-funded at 6 months of age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Two additional doses (at 6 months and 4 years) are recommended and NIP-funded for medically-at risk children. Further doses may be recommended and funded during adolescence depending on risk – speak to your doctor to learn more. | |||||||||
| Polio | |||||||||
| Rotavirus | |||||||||
| Rubella | |||||||||
| Tetanus | |||||||||
| Whooping cough (pertussis) | |||||||||
| Seasonal influenza | |||||||||
| The influenza vaccine is recommended annually for all people aged 6 months and over. Influenza vaccine is funded under the NIP for those at or above 6 months of age with certain medical conditions and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months to under 5 years and those aged at or above 15 years. Learn more about who should receive flu vaccination. | |||||||||
- 12
- 18
- 34
- 8
For children and adolescents who have missed a dose(s) or have just arrived in Australia, please speak to your doctor about catch-up immunisations.
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AUS/VAC/0105/18, AUS/VAC/0055/18 Date of Approval: November 2018