Australia has had a recommended schedule of vaccinations for adults and children for many years. The schedule — known as the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule — lists all the vaccinations that the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia’s premier health advisory body, believes every person should have, and states at what age they should have them.

New schedule

The vaccination schedule is reviewed from time to time to make sure it incorporates the latest knowledge. The most recent review by the National Health and Medical Research Council resulted in several changes. The new Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule for children and adolescents 0–18 years is shown below.

Some of the changes to the schedule have been made to incorporate new vaccines and new knowledge about the effectiveness of vaccines. For example, the newly available meningococcal C vaccine has been added to the schedule to protect children against the C strain of meningococcal disease. 

Ask your doctor or nurse about the vaccinations your child should have.

The Australian Government pays for most — but not all — the vaccines in the new schedule. It also pays for the pneumococcal vaccine only in some circumstances. Parents must pay for the vaccines not covered by the Government. The vaccines that parents must pay for are indicated in the comments column of the schedule shown opposite.

To further complicate matters, some state, territory and local governments have their own vaccination schemes that provide some of the vaccines not paid for by the Australian Government. For example, the New South Wales Government provides free meningococcal C vaccine to Year 12 students, and Hobart City Council provides the same vaccine to 1–5 year olds and 15–19 year olds.

Check

Ask your doctor or nurse about the vaccinations your child should have and which ones are provided free of charge in your state and local area.

Vaccines not provided free of charge can be bought from chemist shops with a doctor’s prescription. The prices charged can vary from chemist to chemist, so it may be worthwhile shopping around to find the best price.

Keeping track

It is essential that you keep a record of all your child’s vaccinations, so you can refer to it later if necessary. You may like to record the information in the personal health record booklet you were given when the child was born. As several vaccines can be given at the same time, remember to ask your doctor or nurse which vaccines were given.

Further information

Information about vaccinations, the Australian Standard Immunisation Schedule, and the costs of vaccines can be obtained from immunisation clinics and GPs, as well as some hospitals, local councils and Aboriginal community controlled health services. You can also obtain more information by visiting the website for the Department of Health and Ageing.

Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule (0–18 years only)

Notes

1. Two types of polio vaccine exist. The Australian Government pays for one type only. Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
2. Three types of Hib vaccine exist. One needs three vaccinations, the other two need four vaccinations. Discuss with your doctor or nurse.
3. The Government provides free pneumococcal vaccine for:

• all children under 2 years of age living in Central Australia
• all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under 2 years of age
• Aboriginal children and Torres Strait Islander children under 5 years of age living in Central Australia and any region likely to have a similar high incidence of pneumococcal infection
• children under 5 years of age with medical risk factors that predispose them to high incidence or high severity of pneumococcal infection (discuss with your doctor).