Our clients have been inquiring about the immunisation program for children in Australia. We would like to provide information about the steps to be taken when we arrive in Australia with a child who is in the age of compulsory vaccination to be received.
Not mentioning the obvious reasons, it is important to note that only those families are entitled to receive Family Tax Benefit and childcare support whose child has undergone or is undergoing the immunisation process.
For children born before 1 July 2012 :
| Age | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B |
| 2 months | Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) |
| 4 months | Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) |
| 6 months | Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV) |
| 12 months |
Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal C (Hib-MenC) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) |
| 4 years |
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough) and inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (DTPa-IPV) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (to be given only if MMRV vaccine was not given at 18 months) |
For children born after 1 July 2012 :
| Age | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B |
| 2 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus |
| 4 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus |
| 6 months |
Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (hepB-DTPa-Hib-IPV)Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV) Rotavirus b |
| 12 months |
Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal C (Hib-MenC) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) |
| 18 months | Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) (MMRV) |
| 4 years |
Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough) and inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (DTPa-IPV) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (to be given only if MMRV vaccine was not given at 18 months) |
The immunisation in the above table is compulsory for all inhabitants of Australia. The only exception can be considered for those who hand in a written appeal with a sound reasoning (medical reason, religious or different views need to be explained).
We would like to stress that the information above is not comprehensive, it does not replace consulting the Australian health authorities.