Key facts
- If you miss your vaccines, you can catch up for free at different ages.
- The catch-up vaccines you can get depend on your age.
- Talk to your health professional about which vaccines are free and recommended for you.
Who can get the free catch-up vaccines
Many people miss vaccines for different reasons. If you've missed recommended vaccines, you may be able to catch up for free.
Free catch-up vaccines are for people who:
- have a Medicare card or are eligible to be on one
- have missed vaccines on the NIP schedule for babies and children
- need to catch up at a later age.
The vaccines you can catch up on depend on your age.
Free catch-up vaccines are available for certain age groups under the National Immunisation Program.
Even if you're not eligible for free catch-up vaccines, some vaccines may still be recommended for you.
If you’re not eligible, you may be able to buy catch-up vaccines with a prescription. Talk to a health professional to see if they’re recommended for you.
Also talk to your state or territory health department. They may provide some catch-up vaccines for free.
What catch-up vaccines you can get and when
| Age | Free catch-up vaccines |
|---|---|
| Under 2 years old | Meningococcal B (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children) |
| 5 years of age or under | Hib, pneumococcal |
| 10 years of age or under | Polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox,
|
| 19 years of age or under | Polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, meningococcal ACWY, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough |
| Refugee or humanitarian entrant aged 20 years and over | Polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough |
| 25 years of age or under | HPV |
How to get free catch-up vaccines
Talk to a health professional in your area to confirm which catch-up vaccines are free and recommended for you.
They will:
- check your immunisation history to see if there are any missed vaccines
- plan a catch-up schedule to make sure you get the right doses at the right time.
If you’re a refugee or humanitarian entrant, bring any immunisation records from overseas. If your records are in another language, you will need to have them translated into English.
The Department of Home Affairs provides a free translating service for Australian citizens and new migrants settling permanently in Australia.
Costs
Some providers charge a consultation fee to give catch-up vaccines. The vaccines themselves are free to people who are eligible. Check before you make an appointment.
If you need to buy a catch-up vaccine, check the cost with a doctor, pharmacy or clinic.
Next steps
Find out more about the:
- free vaccines on the NIP schedule
- possible side effects of vaccination
- where and how to get vaccinated.
Contact
