Vaccination is important at all stages of life to develop immunity. This will protect you and the community from certain diseases.
Your health, age, lifestyle and job will determine what vaccines you need and when to get them. See your doctor about which vaccinations you may need.
The National Immunisation Program offers free essential vaccines for eligible infants, children, adolescents and adults. See the National Immunisation Program schedule for details.
Free routine vaccinations are provided for:
- pregnant women
- infants and children
- adolescents
- adults
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Extra vaccinations are also provided free for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people due to an increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases than non-Indigenous persons
- people with certain medical risk conditions that put them at greater risk of disease.
Vaccines are recommended (but not provided free) for:
- women who are planning a pregnancy
- people who work in certain jobs and industries
- people who are travelling to certain countries.
Vaccines required for:
- access to some family assistance payments and early childhood services.
You may need other vaccines not provided through the national or state and territory immunisation programs. You can buy extra vaccines privately when you need to. Talk to your doctor if you think you or someone in your care may need extra vaccines.