How to book in Australia
Book with your GP, a council immunisation clinic, an Aboriginal Medical Service, or a participating pharmacy. NIP vaccines are free. Your child's history is recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (check it via myGov / Medicare).
healthdirect - find a serviceTap any milestone to expand it. Each vaccine explains what it is, the diseases it prevents, and why it is given at that age.
BirthNewborn1 vaccine
Given in the first week of life. A baby who catches hepatitis B at birth almost always develops a lifelong liver infection, so the first dose is given straight away.
2 months (from 6 weeks)Newborn3 vaccines
A single shot against six diseases. Starting at 6-8 weeks gives early cover against whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for young babies.
Protects against pneumococcus - a common cause of ear and chest infections and a serious cause of meningitis.
Oral drops against the most common cause of severe gastro in babies. Must start by 14 weeks.
4 monthsNewborn3 vaccines
Second dose - protection builds with each one.
Second pneumococcal dose.
The final rotavirus dose. Must be given by 24 weeks.
6 monthsInfant2 vaccines
Third dose, completing the primary course.
Free every year for children aged 6 months to under 5 years, who are among the most likely to be hospitalised with flu.
12 monthsToddler3 vaccines
First measles, mumps and rubella dose. Measles is highly contagious and still causes outbreaks when vaccination rates fall.
Protects against four groups of meningococcal bacteria that can cause rapid, life-threatening meningitis and sepsis.
The pneumococcal booster at the first birthday.
18 monthsToddler3 vaccines
A whooping cough booster at 18 months - immunity from the baby doses fades and toddlers mix closely with others.
The second measles dose plus chickenpox cover, given as one combined shot.
A Hib booster to maintain protection against this cause of meningitis and epiglottitis.
4 yearsChild1 vaccine
A booster before school that tops up protection against four diseases for the primary-school years.
12 to 13 years (school program)Teen2 vaccines
Australia now uses a single dose for most adolescents. It prevents the infections that cause almost all cervical cancer and many other cancers, and Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer.
A teenage booster that also helps protect babies from whooping cough by reducing spread.
14 to 16 years (school program)Teen1 vaccine
A teenage meningococcal dose - rates of meningococcal disease rise again in the mid-to-late teens.
Given in addition to the routine schedule, for children who meet certain criteria.
When: 6, 12 and 18 months and 4 years
Who: Additional pneumococcal and hepatitis A doses, and in some states a meningococcal B course, funded for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
When: 6 weeks, 4 months, 12 months
Who: Funded for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and children with certain medical conditions; available privately for others.
When: Pregnancy vaccine (Abrysvo) at 28 to 36 weeks, free on the National Immunisation Program; or the nirsevimab antibody injection for the baby through state and territory programmes
Who: All pregnant women can have the free pregnancy vaccine. Nirsevimab is offered to babies whose mothers did not have it (or had it less than 2 weeks before birth) and to babies at higher risk - eligibility differs by state and territory.
How Australia compares with other countries for each vaccine, and the side effects that are normal.
Moving here? Moving to Australia with a child
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About the Australia schedule
Australia's National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides childhood vaccines free of charge. The schedule is set by the Department of Health and Aged Care on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Babies are vaccinated at birth, then at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months, with a booster at 4 years and a school-based program in early high school. Keeping to the schedule is linked to the Family Tax Benefit and to child care enrolment under 'No Jab, No Play' rules in several states.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and children with certain medical conditions, are offered extra vaccines.
How Australia compares
Australia's routine schedule protects against 16 diseases across 9 vaccination ages, 4 of them in the first year. By age 2 a child has had about 15 vaccine doses, including oral drops against rotavirus.
Less common elsewhere: Australia routinely vaccinates against Flu, which fewer than half of the other 13 countries on this site include for every child.
Compare Australia with any other country, disease by disease.
Behind schedule or new to Australia? Almost every dose still counts, and your clinic can plan a catch-up - see common questions or moving to Australia.