Vaccination: Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule

This table shows the recommended immunisation schedule for Australian children. This Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule replaces the 2 previous schedules which were for children born on or after 1 May 2000 and for children born before 1 May 2000. Below the table is a brief explanation of the types of vaccinations used.

Vaccine
	Birth
	Hepatitis B
PATH 1 PATH 2 2 months 2 months Combined DTPa-Hepatitis B DTPa Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) Combined Hib (PRP-OMP) - Hepatitis B Polio Polio Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Rotavirus Rotavirus 4 months 4 months Combined DTPa-Hepatitis B DTPa Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) Combined Hib (PRP-OMP) - Hepatitis B Polio Polio Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Rotavirus Rotavirus 6 months 6 months Combined DTPa-Hepatitis B DTPa Polio Polio Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Pneumococcal vaccine (7vPCV) Rotavirus (third dose is dependent on the brand of vaccine used) Rotavirus (third dose is dependent on the brand of vaccine used) Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) 12 months 12 months Measles, mumps and rubella Measles, mumps and rubella Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) Combined Hib (PRP-OMP) - Hepatitis B Meningococcal C Meningococcal C
	ALL CHILDREN (PATH 1 and PATH 2)
	12-24 months
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high-risk areas
	Hepatitis A
	18 months
	Chickenpox
	18-24 months
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high-risk areas
	Pneumococcal vaccine (23vPPV)
	Hepatitis A
	4 years
	DTPa
	Measles, mumps and rubella
	Polio
	10-13 years (Hepatitis B not necessary for children who have received hepatitis B vaccine previously - as above)
	Hepatitis B
	1 month later
	Hepatitis B
	5 months after 2nd dose
	Hepatitis B
	Chickenpox
	(only for children who haven't had chickenpox or been vaccinated previously)
	12-13 years (girls only)
	HPV vaccine
	15-17 years
	DTPa
	Non-immune women who are of child bearing age or have just had a baby
	Measles, mumps and rubella
	15-49 years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people medically at risk
	Influenza
	Pneumococcal vaccine (23vPPV)
	50 years Tetanus & diphtheria (unless a booster given in previous 10 years)
	Tetanus & diphtheria
	50 years and over (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
	Pneumococcal vaccine (23vPPV)
	Influenza (every year)
	65 years and over
	Pneumococcal vaccine (23vPPV)
	Influenza (every year)

Guide to the medical abbreviations used for the vaccines and diseases

Here is a guide to the terms used by doctors and healthcare workers to talk about the various vaccines. They have been colour coded to match the different vaccines on the chart of the Australian immunisation schedule.

DTPa = combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine containing an acellular pertussis vaccine. This causes fewer adverse reactions than the older DTP vaccine.

Hep A = Hepatitis A

Hep B = Hepatitis B

Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type B

Meningococcal C = meningococcal C conjugate vaccine (MenCCV)

MMR = measles, mumps, rubella vaccine

Polio = Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is now preferred over oral polio vaccine (OPV) and may be given as part of a combination vaccine incorporating other vaccines due at the same time.

Pertussis = Bordetella pertussis (the germ that causes whooping cough).

PRP-OMP = a type of vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type B. This type is recommended for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Rubella = German measles

Td = combined diphtheria and tetanus vaccine

Influenza = flu vaccine

Pneumococcal (7vPCV) = A type of pneumococcal vaccine known as 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, that helps protect against 7 serotypes of the bacterium — the ones that cause the majority of pneumococcal disease in young children.

Pneumococcal (23vPPV) = A type of pneumococcal vaccine known as 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, that helps protect against 23 serotypes of the bacterium.

HPV = Human papillomavirus (infection with some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer and genital warts).

Rotavirus = the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children.

myDr, 2001. Updated from the The Australian Immunisation Handbook, 8th edition, NHMRC 2003.
© Copyright: myDr, UBM Medica Australia, 2000-2010. All rights reserved.

Last Reviewed: 27 September 2007