The National Immunisation Program provides routine vaccinations free to eligible people. Infants, children, adolescents and adults who have, or are eligible to have a Medicare card can receive the free vaccines. 

You can check the National Immunisation Program schedule to find out which vaccines you or your family are eligible to receive for free and when.

Find out more about what your recommended vaccines are, and when you should get them. All immunisations linked to family assistance payments are provided free. Vaccines recommended for travel or work are not free. 

It is important to let your vaccination provider know if the person to be vaccinated:

• is unwell

• has a disease that lowers immunity (e.g. leukaemia, cancer, HIV/AIDS) or is having treatment that lowers immunity (e.g. steroid medicines taken in the mouth such as cortisone and prednisone, radiotherapy, chemotherapy)

• is an infant of a mother who was receiving therapy that reduced her immunity during pregnancy (e.g. biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs))

• has had a severe reaction following any vaccine

• has any severe allergies (to anything)

• has had any vaccine in the past month

• has had an injection of an antibody of any kind, or received any blood products or a whole blood transfusion within the past year

• is pregnant

• has a past history of Guillain-Barré syndrome

• was born prematurely

• has a chronic illness

• has a bleeding disorder

• identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander

• does not have a functioning spleen

• is planning a pregnancy or anticipating parenthood

• is a parent, grandparent or carer of a newborn

• lives with someone who has a disease that lowers immunity (e.g. leukaemia, cancer, HIV/AIDS), or lives with someone who is having treatment that lowers immunity (e.g. steroid medicines taken in the mouth such as cortisone and prednisone, radiotherapy, chemotherapy)

• is planning travel

• works in an occupation or does activities for which vaccination is sometimes needed (discuss with doctor/nurse and be specific).

You must give your consent (verbal or in writing) before receiving any vaccines. Parents or guardians must provide consent for children or people in their care. 

After your appointment, your vaccination provider will enter information about the vaccine they gave you or your child into the Australian Immunisation Register.

The register records all National Immunisation Program vaccines, and most privately purchased vaccines, given to people of all ages.

Pre pregnancy planning

Early pregnancy assessment