Key messages
- The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free essential vaccines to protect eligible adolescents and young adults (including refugees, asylum seekers and other humanitarian entrants) aged 11 – 25 years against a range of diseases.
- Additional NIP-funded vaccines are recommended for people with specified medical risk conditions.
- Year 7 and Year 10 secondary school students can receive free vaccination in the Secondary School Immunisation Program as part of the NIP.
- Adolescents who don’t attend school or who miss school clinics may choose to access free vaccines from a general practitioner, pharmacy, local council or other health service.
- Parent/guardian consent is usually required for vaccination of people aged under 18 years, but some adolescents may be able to give consent if they are considered a ‘mature minor’[i] by their health professional.
- Resources are available to support the development of catch-up vaccination plan for eligible adolescents and young adults.
Adolescent and young adult vaccination schedule
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is a series of immunisations given at specific times throughout your life.
Catch-up immunisation
Catch-up vaccination aims to provide optimal protection against disease as quickly as possible.
Secondary school immunisation program - Information for secondary schools and councils
The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free vaccines as part of the National Immunisation Program each year to Year 7 and Year 10 students.
Adolescent immunisation outside of school programs
Role of GPs, health services, pharmacist immunisers, catch-up tools, support resources
[i] Young people can be deemed to be able to provide consent for their own treatment if they meet the ‘mature minor’ or ‘Gillick principle’. This principle is enshrined in section 4 of the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 (Vic).
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