National Immunisation Schedule

Explore the comprehensive National Immunisation Schedule, covering 17 diseases to safeguard Australia's health. Stay updated on vaccine guidelines, schedules, and program changes to confidently support your patients' immunisation needs.

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 17 diseases and provides vaccination funding for:

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) Rotavirus^b
4 months	Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus^b
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 Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV)
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)	Shingles (herpes zoster)
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)	Pneumococcal (13vPCV)
	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	Pneumococcal^d
12 months	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander	Meningococcal B
≥ 12 months	Medically at risk	Pneumococcal^d
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
≥18 years	Medically at risk	Shingles (herpes zoster)
≥50 years	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander	Pneumococcal^d Shingles (herpes zoster)
Any age	Specific medical conditions	Meningococcal B Meningococcal ACWY
Any age	Pregnancy	Influenza Pertussis (whooping cough) Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
Any age	Adolescents and adults with specified medical risk condition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents and adults	Influenza (annually) Pneumococcal^d

Footnotes to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule

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.
Rotavirus vaccine: First dose must be given by 14 weeks of age, the second dose by 24 weeks of age.
HPV vaccine: 2 doses 6-12 months apart and 3 doses required >15yrs and/or certain medical conditions. A catch up is available for individuals <26yrs.
For at risk people refer to the Immunisation Handbook for information on dose intervals and type of pneumococcal vaccine to be administered.
Single dose recommended each pregnancy, ideally between 28-32 weeks, but may be given up until delivery.