The Australian Immunisation Handbook

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals and others about the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice. The guidance is based on the best scientific evidence available, from published and unpublished literature. Details about the Handbook revision procedures are in Development of the Handbook.

The Handbook contains information for all vaccines that are available in Australia at or near the time of publication. The National Immunisation Program funds many of the vaccines. People may receive, or be recommended to receive, vaccines described in this Handbook that are not part of the routine immunisation schedule — for example, people:

• who are travelling overseas
• with a medical condition that puts them at increased risk of contracting a vaccine-preventable disease
• at occupational risk of disease.