Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Immunisation and vaccinations for your child

8-minute read

If you have a severe headache during pregnancy that is not usual for you, seek medical help immediately.

Key facts

  • Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community.
  • Your baby or child can get many vaccines for free under the Department of Health and Aged Care's National Immunisation Program.
  • New vaccines against serious illnesses continue to be developed, so your child may receive more vaccines than you did as a child.
  • Your child can be vaccinated at your doctor’s clinic, an immunisation clinic, your local council by community child health nurses, and at some hospitals.
  • Most vaccine side effects are minor, and the risk of a serious side effect from a vaccine is far lower than the health risks of the disease itself.

How does immunisation work?

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way to protect children against certain diseases. The serious health risks of these diseases are far greater than the very small risks of immunisation.

Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community.

It uses your body’s natural defence mechanism — your immune system — to build resistance to specific infections. Most vaccines contain a weakened or dead version of the germ that causes the disease. Your immune system responds to the vaccine and creates antibodies that prevent a future infection.

What is the difference between vaccination and immunisation?

Vaccination is the term used for getting a vaccine — that is, getting the injection or taking an oral vaccine dose. Immunisation refers to the process of both getting the vaccine and becoming immune to the disease after vaccination.

Learn more about the difference between vaccination and immunisation.

Your baby or child can get many vaccines for free under the Department of Health and Aged Care's National Immunisation Program.

In Australia, babies and children are immunised against the following diseases:

The hepatitis A vaccine is free for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children living in high-risk areas. These areas include Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia.

Children aged 6 months to 5 years can have the flu vaccine for free each year.

Children aged 12 to 13 years can have the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) through their schools.

Children aged 5 years and older should receive a vaccine against COVID-19. You can visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care for information, booking appointments and safety advice.

Most vaccines are given by injection. Some combine several vaccines in the one injection. The National Immunisation Program Schedule is available at the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website.

Why do children need so many vaccinations?

Young children need vaccinations to protect them against some of the most serious childhood infectious diseases.

Your child will need several vaccinations because new vaccines against serious infections continue to be developed.

In some cases, several vaccines are combined into one injection. This reduces the number of injections your child will get.

For a full list of recommended vaccinations for children, visit:

Where can I have my child vaccinated?

You can get your child vaccinated at:

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Do vaccination needles hurt?

Although needles are given quickly, getting vaccinations can be painful for your child. The best way you can make it as painless as possible is to hold your child and soothe and comfort them. Breastfeeding can also help reduce pain, and there are other techniques to help reduce your child’s pain.

What are the side effects of vaccinations?

Many children get minor side effects such as:

  • redness, soreness or swelling where the needle went in
  • mild fever
  • being irritable or unsettled

Side effects tend to be short-lasting.

If your child has any of these side effects:

  • Give them extra fluids to drink.
  • Don’t overdress them if they feel hot.
  • Ask your health provider about giving them paracetamol to help with fever or soreness.

For young children about to receive their meningococcal B vaccination, you can give them the recommended dose of paracetamol before immunisation. This can help reduce the chance of your child developing a fever. Talk to your doctor or child health nurse before your appointment about how to do this.

Serious reactions to vaccinations are very rare. However, if they do occur, take your child to the doctor immediately.

If your child has had a reaction to a vaccine, you can also report it non-urgently to:

What is the Australian Immunisation Register?

A record of your child’s immunisation history is kept by the Australian Immunisation Register, which is run by Medicare Australia.

It gives you and health professionals many benefits, such as:

  • the option of getting a copy of your child’s immunisation details at any time
  • documents to help with eligibility for some family payments
  • the ability to track immunisation levels in Australia to assist health professionals to track disease outbreaks
  • an immunisation history statement when you need it

You can get your child’s immunisation history statement:

  • by calling the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
  • through your Medicare online account on myGov

What is ‘no jab, no pay’?

To receive the Family Tax Benefit Part A and Child Care Subsidy, your child needs to be up-to-date with their immunisation schedule or have a medical exemption if they are unable to be vaccinated.

Find out more at the Services Australia website.

Resources and support

Visit the National Immunisation Information Line or call: 1800 671 811

Call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 or visit the website at Services Australia.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Immunisation and vaccinations for your child

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting children against certain diseases. Discover more about childhood vaccinations.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Immunising your child - MyDr.com.au

Being immunised protects your child against catching contagious conditions. Vaccinations give your child immunity and protect them from suffering from the effects of that disease.

Read more on myDr website

Keeping your child’s vaccinations up to date during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a decrease in children getting their routine childhood vaccinations.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Immunisation records | NCIRS

Your immunisation history statement has all your vaccines that have been recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Immunisation or vaccination - what's the difference?

What's the difference between immunisation and vaccination? Find out how vaccines work and the difference between primary and booster doses.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Immunisation | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way to protect you, your family and others in the community from serious diseases. The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free vaccines against a number of diseases, to increase national immunisation rates and reduce vaccine preventable disease.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

Vaccines & immunisation

Read about immunisation & the vaccines available to protect you, your child & the community from infectious diseases such as hepatitis & whooping cough.

Read more on NPS MedicineWise website

Community Child Health Program | WA Health

Community child health nurses support all families with young children. We provide a range of important free services to support families to raise happy, healthy children. We offer health and development assessments and screening, immunisation advice and support to families with young children.

Read more on WA Health website

Getting vaccinated | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Find out what to do when booking your appointment, and what to expect at your vaccination visit.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

No Jab No Play, No Jab No Pay | NCIRS

Your child must meet immunisation requirements if you get Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A or child care fee assistance

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.