Key facts
- Number of doses: 6.
- Free for: Babies and children at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age, children at 4 years of age, and teens at 12 to 13 of age.
- Side effects can include a mild fever and decrease in appetite, and redness, a hard lump, mild swelling or pain at the injection site.
What is diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that can affect the nose, throat and skin. It spreads through coughing, sneezing or close contact with an infected person.
Diphtheria can cause a thick coating in the throat, making it hard to breathe or swallow. It can also damage the heart and nervous system. Diphtheria can affect people of any age.
What is the diphtheria vaccine
The diphtheria vaccine is an injection that helps protect people from diphtheria. The ingredients teach the immune system to recognise and fight the virus that causes diphtheria, without causing the disease itself.
Diphtheria vaccines are safe and effective at protecting against diphtheria and its complications.
In Australia, diphtheria vaccines are only available as combination vaccines that also protect against other diseases, such as tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) (dTpa vaccines).
You can find product information and consumer medicine information about diphtheria vaccines on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.
Who can get the diphtheria vaccine
The vaccine is free under the NIP schedule for:
- babies at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age
- children at 4 years of age
- adolescents at 12 to 13 years of age (year 7 or equivalent)
- people 19 years of age or under (as a catch-up vaccination)
- refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age (as a catch-up vaccination).
You must also have a Medicare card or be eligible for one. This includes babies and children.
If you are not eligible for the free vaccine through the NIP
Talk to your health professional about whether vaccination is recommended for you or your child. Most vaccines are available for private purchase with a prescription.
If you buy the vaccine yourself, you will need to pay for it. The cost is not covered or reimbursed through the NIP.
Some vaccines not funded by the NIP may be funded by your state or territory. Check the immunisation schedule for your state or territory to find out more.
How the diphtheria vaccine is given
The vaccine is injected into a muscle (intramuscularly).
Costs
Some providers charge a consultation fee to give vaccines (including free ones). Check before you make an appointment.
Side effects
Most side effects of diphtheria vaccines are mild and last no more than a couple of days. Serious side effects are rare.
Common side effects include:
- mild fever
- decrease in appetite
- redness, mild swelling or pain at the injection site.
Occasionally, a lump may form at the injection site. This may last for weeks, but no treatment is needed.
Find out how to manage common vaccine side effects. If you’re worried, talk to a health professional.
Safety data
See safety data for the free vaccines given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 years and 12 to 13 years of age from AusVaxSafety.
Checking immunisation history
You can get proof of vaccination for you or your child. Visit the Check immunisation history page to find out how.
Information for health professionals
If you are a health professional, visit our Vaccination clinical support for health professionals page for more information.
You can also read the Australian Immunisation Handbook diphtheria page.
Next steps
Talk to a health professional to confirm if the diphtheria vaccine is free or recommended for you, or your child or teen.
Find a health professional in your area or call your state or territory health department.
More information
- View our NIP resources.
- Watch our video called What is diphtheria? to find out why childhood diphtheria vaccination is so important.
- Visit our Childhood immunisation site.
- Read the DTPa-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine (Vaxelis® and Infanrix hexa®) frequently asked questions on the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia website.
Diphtheria vaccine
Find out how effective the diphtheria vaccine is and more about potential side effects.
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