What is the NIP Schedule?
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is a series of immunisations given at specific times throughout your life. The immunisations range from birth through to adulthood.
All vaccines listed in the NIP Schedule are free. Eligibility for free vaccines under the NIP is linked to eligibility for Medicare benefits.
To get the best possible protection, make sure you have your immunisations on time, every time. The NIP Schedule below shows which vaccines you should get and when.
National Immunisation Program schedule for all non-Indigenous people
National Immunisation Program schedule for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
National Immunisation Program schedule for all people
National Immunisation Program Schedule – from 1 July 2020
Age |
Disease |
Vaccine brand |
Childhood vaccination (also see influenza vaccine) |
||
Birth |
Hepatitis B (usually offered in hospital)a |
|
2 months (can be given from 6 weeks of age) |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
|
Rotavirusb | Rotarix® | |
Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13® | |
4 months |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
|
Rotavirusb | Rotarix® | |
Prevenar 13® | ||
6 months |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | |
Additional dose for children with specified medical risk conditionsc |
||
12 months |
||
Measles, mumps, rubella | M-M-R® II or Priorix® | |
Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13® | |
18 months |
||
Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox (varicella) | Priorix-Tetra® or ProQuad® | |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) | Infanrix® or Tripacel® | |
4 years |
||
Additional dose for children with specified medical risk conditionsc |
||
Adolescent vaccination (also see influenza vaccine) |
||
12–13 years (school programs)e |
||
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) | Boostrix® | |
14–16 years (school programs)e |
||
|
Adult vaccination (also see influenza vaccine) |
|
70 years and over |
||
70–79 yearsg |
||
Pregnant women |
||
Funded annual influenza vaccinationi | ||
Children 6 months to less than 5 years of age | ||
People 6 months and over with specified medical risk conditions | ||
People 65 years and over | ||
Pregnant women | ||
|
Age |
Disease |
Vaccine brand |
Indigenous children (also see influenza vaccine) |
||
Birth |
Hepatitis B (usually offered in hospital)a | |
2 months (can be given from 6 weeks of age) |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
|
Rotavirusb | Rotarix® | |
Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13® | |
Meningococcal B | Bexsero® | |
4 months |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
|
Rotavirusb | Rotarix® | |
Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13® | |
Meningococcal B | Bexsero® | |
6 months |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
|
Additional dose for children in WA, NT, SA, Qld and children with specified medical risk conditionsc |
||
Additional dose for children with specified medical risk conditionsc |
||
12 months |
||
Measles, mumps, rubella | M-M-R® II or Priorix® | |
Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13® | |
Meningococcal B | Bexsero® | |
18 months |
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | |
Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox (varicella) | Priorix-Tetra® or ProQuad® | |
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) | Infanrix® or Tripacel® | |
Additional vaccine for children in WA, NT, SA, Qldd |
||
4 years |
||
Additional dose for children in WA, NT, SA, Qld and children with specified medical risk conditionsc |
||
Additional vaccine for children in WA, NT, SA, Qldf |
||
Indigenous adolescents (also see influenza vaccine) |
||
12–13 years (school programs)g |
||
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) | Boostrix® | |
14–16 years (school programs)g |
||
Indigenous adults (also see influenza vaccine) |
||
50 years and overi |
||
70–79 yearsj |
Shingles (herpes zoster) | |
Pregnant women |
||
Funded influenza vaccinationl | ||
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 6 months and over | ||
|
Flu (influenza) vaccines
If you belong to any of the categories below, you are eligible to receive a free flu shot each year.
Aged | Comments |
---|---|
6 months and over with certain medical risk factors | This includes anyone aged 6 months and over who has:
|
All children 6 months to less than 5 years | None |
All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 6 months and over | None |
65 years and over | None |
Pregnant women | Any trimester during each pregnancy |
Catch up immunisations
All people aged less than 20 years are eligible for free catch-up vaccines.
The number and range of vaccines and doses that are eligible for NIP funded catch-up is different for people aged less than 10 years and those aged 10–19 years. Read more about NIP NIP catch-up immunisations.
Adult refugees and humanitarian entrants are eligible for free catch-up vaccines.
State and territory immunisation schedules
State and territory health departments also fund some additional vaccines. It is important to also check the immunisation schedule for your area.
- ACT schedule
- NSW schedule
- NT childhood schedule, NT adults and special groups schedule
- QLD schedule
- SA schedule
- TAS schedule, TAS flu schedule
- VIC schedule
- WA adult schedule, WA childhood schedule
International immunisation schedules
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on worldwide immunisation schedules. Visit the website and select the country of interest to view:
- a profile for that country
- the relevant immunisation schedule
- information on disease surveillance
- vaccine coverage.
Next steps
- Find out about our immunisation services for each disease, including the possible side effects of different vaccines.
- Follow our six steps to getting vaccinated.
- Take a look at getting started with immunisation to find out the basics — how immunisation works and why it's important.
- Find out more about NIP vaccines for children aged up to 4 years on the Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) website for parents.