Immunisation is recommended for adults and pregnant women at scheduled ages for optimal protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines listed on the are free of charge through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and Victorian-funded programs.
Key messages
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free vaccines to protect eligible adults against a range of diseases.
- Catch up immunisation is available up to 20 years (up to 25 years for HPV)
- Refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age are eligible for free NIP catch-up vaccines
- Additional vaccines recommended for:
- people with specified medical risk conditions
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- pregnant women
- adults aged from 65 years and over.
- Some vaccines are free under the Victorian Immunisation schedule for eligible people aged ≥20 years.
- Resources are available to support the development of catch-up immunisation plans.
- Immunisation providers should report administration of all vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register.
Antenatal immunisation
Pregnant women are routinely recommended to receive the following vaccines to protect themselves and their babies from serious infection:
- Influenza vaccine: in each pregnancy, at any stage.
- Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine (dTpa): every pregnancy, ideally between 20–32 weeks, but can be given up until delivery.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine: between 28-36 weeks of pregnancy.
Additional guidance:
- For more information refer to Vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Consult the Australian Immunisation Handbookfor advice on
- other inactivated vaccines that are not routinely recommended during pregnancy but may be considered in special circumstances.
- live attenuated viral vaccines are contraindicated (should not be given) during pregnancy.
National Immunisation Program (NIP) and state-funded vaccines for adults
Adults and special risk groups are eligible to receive some vaccines for free under the NIP. The Victorian Government also funds the provision of some vaccines that are not included in the NIP.
Immunisation for special-risk groups
Some people are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases due to certain conditions, underlying disease, or other risk factors.
Catch-up immunisation
Catch-up vaccination aims to provide optimal protection against disease as quickly as possible.
Vaccinations in the workplace
Some types of work have a higher risk of exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. People in these jobs should be vaccinated against certain diseases.
Resources
- Catch-up immunisation
- Catch up immunisation guide for people aged 10 years and over
- Seasonal Influenza vaccine
- PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool for pneumococcal disease vaccination recommendations.
- Zoster (Herpes zoster) Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre
- Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine
- Health, Age, Lifestyle and Occupation (HALO). Adults can take the immunisation quiz to guide vaccine recommendations.
- Adult vaccination fact sheets. National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
- Victorian vaccine history timeline
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