The Australian National Immunisation Program
The Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) is funded by the Australian Government and implemented by state and territory departments of health. Globally, the Australian NIP continues to be one of the most comprehensive, fully funded immunisation programs in the world.
The National Immunisation Program schedule can be accessed via the Immunise Australia website.
Information relating to individual state and territory immunisation schedules can be accessed via the following links:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
Childhood schedules
The NIP was last amended in August 2011 to reflect the inclusion of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children.
NCIRS has developed a table, National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule at a glance for children, which lists the vaccines recommended under the NIP for Australian children and adolescents. Occasionally, the ages at which some NIP vaccines are administered and the brand of vaccine used will vary between the states and territories. Therefore it is important to also check the immunisation schedule for your area (see the links to state and territory schedules above).
Adult schedules
NCIRS has developed a table, Schedule of immunisation recommendations for adults in Australia, which lists the vaccines that are fully funded for adults via the NIP, as well as current vaccine recommendations for adults that may be provided and/or funded via other means. As described in the NCIRS fact sheet on adult immunisation, it is important to note that some adults may not have received vaccine doses during their childhood, either as a result of certain vaccines not being available at that time, or due to later schedule changes, resulting in the requirement for extra doses.
Other schedules
Travel vaccination
The following websites provide general information regarding vaccination and travel. For individual advice about travel, additional information should be sought directly from specialised travel clinics, infectious disease specialists or immunisation service providers with an interest in travel medicine and vaccination.
The Travel Doctor-TMVC
Travel Clinics Australia
Travel Medicine Alliance
(Note: This list is not an endorsement of any travel clinic over another, is not listed by preference and is not exhaustive.)
The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides some general information regarding travel and vaccination.
The World Health Organization International Travel and Health website offers general information and updates regarding malaria and yellow fever vaccination requirements.
If your query is regarding yellow fever vaccination and certification, please contact your state or territory health department for information regarding your nearest accredited yellow fever vaccination provider.
International schedules
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on worldwide immunisation schedules. You simply select the country of interest and it will give you a profile on that country, VPD surveillance, the immunisation schedule and information on coverage.
