Key facts
- The program recommends vaccines based on things like age, location and medical risk conditions.
- You should get vaccinated on time by following the National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- If you or your child miss a scheduled vaccine, you may be able to catch up for free.
- Mob with certain medical risk conditions can get extra vaccines.
What is the National Immunisation Program
The National Immunisation Program provides free vaccines for people across Australia. Vaccines are a safe way to protect people from serious infectious diseases.
What is the National Immunisation Program schedule
The National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people shows the vaccines recommended for mob at different ages. Getting the vaccines at the recommended times gives you the best protection from vaccine-preventable diseases when you need it most.
Different groups get different vaccines. For example:
- Babies and young children get lots of vaccines.
- Teens get vaccines at school to protect them as they get older.
- Adults get vaccines too, especially when they’re older.
- Some mob can also get extra vaccines because of their medical conditions.
Different groups of people need different vaccines based on things like age, location and medical risk factors. The National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is designed to keep mob safe and healthy.
The schedule is carefully planned to protect you and the community as soon as possible.
State and territory immunisation schedules
Also check your state or territory immunisation schedule. It may include other free vaccines:
- Australian Capital Territory schedule
- New South Wales schedule
- Northern Territory schedule
- Queensland schedule
- South Australia schedule
- Tasmania schedule and Tasmania flu schedule
- Victoria schedule
- Western Australia adult schedule.
Vaccinate on time
The vaccines are available at times in your life when you need the most protection from certain diseases.
Getting vaccinated on time helps protect you and your community. This is really important for mob who can’t get vaccinated because of their age or because they have a health condition. ‘On time’ means at, or as close as possible to, the age shown in the schedule.
Delaying vaccination leaves you, your child and your community without the best protection against serious diseases.
Follow the National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and set a reminder to book your or your child’s next appointment.
To help you with this, the Australian Immunisation Register will send you reminder letters when your child under 14 is overdue for vaccination.
Catch-up vaccination
If you or someone you know has missed any vaccines, talk to your health professional, as you may be able to catch up. Some catch-up vaccines are funded through the National Immunisation Program (which means you can get them free). Others might be funded by your state or territory program.
Your health professional can tell you which missed vaccines you need and if there will be a cost. They will also create a catch-up schedule so you know what to get and when.
More information
- View our National Immunisation Program resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Read our About vaccination for mob page.
Contact
