Key facts
- Vaccination keeps mob safe from serious diseases.
- Vaccination can help build community immunity, which keeps everyone safe and healthy.
- Serious reactions to vaccines are very rare.
What is vaccination and immunisation
Vaccination is when you get a vaccine. After vaccination, your body will:
- start making antibodies, which protect you against the germ
- remember how to fight these germs for a long time after getting vaccinated.
Immunisation is the protection your body develops after vaccination. This usually takes about 7 to 21 days.
Some germs, like the flu virus, change over time. This means your body might not recognise the germ next flu season, even if you had a flu vaccine this year. This is also why some vaccines are given more regularly than others.
Vaccines keep mob safe from serious diseases
The recommended vaccines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples help keep you and mob safe from dangerous diseases. By getting your recommended vaccines, you are helping to keep all mob healthier.
We recommend vaccines based on things like age, location and medical risk factors. This is why you may get different vaccines to someone else. Getting your vaccines on time gives you the best protection against serious disease.
Some mob have a higher chance of getting really sick from certain diseases because of a medical condition. Because of this, extra vaccines may be recommended. If you're not sure which vaccines you need, talk to your health professional.
The National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shows the vaccines available for free under the National Immunisation Program for mob. Other vaccines may also be recommended depending on your age, health needs, risk factors and where you live.
You can view the schedule on the National Immunisation Program vaccines for mob page.
Protecting mob through community immunity
When you’re vaccinated against a disease, you are less likely to get the disease. If you do get the disease, you won’t get as sick. Vaccination can also help stop some diseases from spreading to other people.
Some people can’t get certain vaccines, including really young babies and people with some health conditions. By getting vaccinated, you can help protect these mob too. This is called community (or herd) immunity, and it helps protect everyone.
Getting vaccinated
This section outlines where to get vaccinated, how to make an appointment and what to do during and after the appointment.
Where to get vaccinated
You and your family can get the National Immunisation Program vaccines at:
- Aboriginal health services
- the hospital (hepatitis B vaccine for newborns)
- your local doctor’s clinic
- community health centres
- participating pharmacies (chemists)
- local council immunisation clinics (in some states and territories)
- schools (for teen vaccinations)
- aged care homes (for people living there).
Find out more about where to get vaccinated at the locations page on the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation website.
Costs
National Immunisation Program vaccines themselves are free. Some providers charge a consultation fee to give vaccines, including free ones. Check before you make an appointment.
Check vaccination history
If you can, check your or your child’s vaccination history before making an appointment. This makes it easier for the health professional to understand which vaccine you need.
All your vaccinations are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). You can get your or your child’s immunisation history statement (for children under 14 years of age) from the AIR. Visit the Check immunisation history page to find out how.
Make an appointment
It’s a good idea to make an appointment and say you would like to get vaccinated, so the chemist or clinic can make sure they have the vaccines ready. You can also make an appointment so your family can get vaccinated at the same time.
If you don’t have a Medicare card, ask the clinic before making an appointment if Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can get their vaccines without a Medicare card.
Find a health professional in your area or call your state or territory health department.
Attend your appointment
People, including babies, can usually get their vaccinations even if they are feeling a little unwell, such as having a runny nose or slight cold. People with a high fever (38.5 °C or more) or a more serious illness should wait until they are well to get vaccinated.
Bring your Medicare card if you have one.
If you are getting a child vaccinated, bring their health record book (given at birth) to the appointment.
If you have any questions about the vaccine, you can have a yarn with your health professional.
After the appointment
You or your child may get mild side effects after vaccination. Most side effects last no more than a couple of days. Find out more about the possible side effects of vaccination.
Side effects of vaccination
Vaccines are safe, but you may feel a quick pinch or sting when the vaccine is given. It’s also normal to feel some mild side effects after your vaccination. Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or 2. Some side effects can happen as your body responds to the vaccine and builds protection against disease.
Common side effects
Common side effects include:
- mild fever
- pain, swelling or redness where you got the injection
- headaches, or muscle or body aches
- feeling more tired than usual.
Serious side effects
Serious reactions to vaccines are rare. When you get a vaccine, you’ll be asked to stay at the clinic for about 15 minutes to make sure you’re ok.
If you have a reaction that you think is severe, unexpected or getting worse, it’s important to get advice on what to do right away.
You are more likely to get serious health problems from a disease than from the vaccine for that disease.
Find out more about the possible side effects of vaccination.
You can also compare the effects of diseases and vaccines in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Symptoms not caused by vaccines
Studies show that some symptoms that happen after vaccination are not caused by the vaccine. They can happen at that time by chance.
Symptoms such as fever and rashes are common after vaccination, especially in children. But it can be hard to know if a vaccine caused these symptoms, because they can happen naturally in many people of the same age.
This leads some people to incorrectly link vaccines to medical conditions with unknown causes.
For example, some people claim that vaccines cause autism. Studies have found no evidence that vaccines cause autism.
More information
- View our National Immunisation Program resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Read the National Immunisation Program vaccines for mob page.
Your child’s vaccination visit
What to expect and how to make the needle feel less painful for your child.
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