Immunisation - childhood

Immunisation from an early age is highly recommended for all Australian children. Having your child immunised helps protect them against the most serious childhood infections, some of which may be life-threatening.

Routine childhood immunisations protect your child against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal C disease, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), rotavirus, chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).

The National Immunisation Program describes the routine childhood immunisations recommended for all children in Australia. Some groups are more at risk than others in the community and may need additional vaccines.

See your doctor or local health clinic to have your child immunised. All Victorian local councils run immunisation sessions.

Immunisation and young children

In the first months of life, a baby is protected from some infectious diseases by antibodies transferred from mother to baby during pregnancy. When these antibodies wear off, the baby is at risk of serious infection.

Most childhood immunisations are given as an injection in the arm or leg, except rotavirus vaccine which is administered orally. Vaccines may protect against one specific disease or provide immunity for several diseases if a number of vaccines are combined in the same injection. This can help reduce the number of injections your child needs to have.

Victorian Childhood Immunisation Schedule

The Victorian Childhood Immunisation Schedule outlines the vaccines that are routinely provided free of charge to all Victorian children under the National Immunisation Program and the age at which each should be given. New vaccines against serious infections continue to be developed.

Age	Disease	Vaccine brand	Common reactions
Birth	Hepatitis B	HB VaxII Paediatric	Mild temperature
2 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)	Infanrix hexa	Mild temperature, drowsiness, irritability/crying
	Pneumococcal	Prevenar 13	Mild temperature, pain at the injection site
	Rotavirus	RotaTeq	Mild temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea up to 7 days after immunisation
4 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)	Infanrix hexa	Mild temperature, drowsiness, irritability/crying
	Pneumococcal	Prevenar 13	Mild temperature, pain at the injection site
	Rotavirus	RotaTeq	Mild temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea up to 7 days after immunisation
6 months	Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)	Infanrix hexa	Mild temperature, drowsiness, irritability/crying
	Pneumococcal	Prevenar 13	Mild temperature, pain at the injection site
	Rotavirus	RotaTeq	Mild temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea up to 7 days after immunisation
12 months	Measles/mumps/rubella	Priorix	High fever (over 39°C) 5 to 12 days later, faint red rash, drowsiness, runny nose, cough or puffy eyes, swollen salivary glands
	Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)	Hiberix	Mild temperature
	Meningococcal C	NeisVac C	Mild temperature, loss of appetite, irritability/crying
12 - 35 months supplementary catch-up	Pneumococcal	Prevenar 13 a single dose from 1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012	Mild temperature, pain at the injection site
18 months	Chickenpox	Varilrix	High fever (over 39°C), mild chickenpox-like rash (2 to 5 spots usually at injection site) 5 to 26 days later
4 years	Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis/ polio	Infanrix IPV	Mild temperature, irritability/crying, drowsiness
	Measles/mumps/rubella	Priorix	High fever (over 39°C), 5 to 12 days later, faint red rash, drowsiness, runny nose, cough or puffy eyes, swollen salivary glands

It is important to immunise your child

All parents must provide a school entry immunisation certificate when they enrol their child in primary school. This is a document that shows your child’s immunisation status. It is automatically provided to you from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register once your child has completed their four-year-old vaccine schedule.

Alternatively, you can arrange to get a certificate for your child by contacting the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Medicare Australia) or your doctor or local council.

To encourage parents to immunise their children at the appropriate age, the Australian Government also provides a Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA). This payment is not income tested and is paid in two instalments. The first amount is paid if your child is immunised between 18 and 24 months of age, while the second amount will be paid after the four-year-old immunisations.

Preparing for your child’s immunisation

It is important to take your child’s Child Health Record with you to each immunisation session so that the doctor, nurse or health worker can record your child’s visit. These records are an important reminder of when your child’s next immunisations are due and which children in the family are immunised.

Before the immunisation, you need to tell the doctor or nurse if your child:

• Is unwell
• 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 immunoglobulin or received any blood products or a whole blood transfusion within the past year
• Was a pre-term infant born less than 32 weeks gestation, or weighing less than 2000g at birth
• As a baby has had intussusception
• Has a chronic illness
• Has a bleeding disorder
• Lives with someone who has a disease or is having treatment that causes low immunity (such as leukaemia, cancer or HIV/AIDS) or is having treatment that causes low immunity (for example, oral steroid medicines such as cortisone or prednisone, radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
• Has a disease which lowers immunity (such as leukaemia, cancer or HIV/AIDS) or is having treatment that causes low immunity (for example, oral steroid medicines such as cortisone or prednisone, radiotherapy or chemotherapy)
• Identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• Does not have a functioning spleen.

The Victorian Government Health Information Immunisation website has more information.

Possible side effects after immunisation

Some children may experience a reaction to a vaccine. These side effects are generally mild, occur soon after the immunisation and last for only a short period. Treatment is not usually required, although you may consider using paracetamol to help ease the fever and soreness. More serious reactions to immunisation are very rare. Urgent medical attention may be needed if serious side effects do occur. In virtually all cases, immunisation side effects are not as serious as the symptoms a child would experience if they were to contract the disease itself.

Ask the doctor or immunisation nurse if you are concerned, and be sure to follow any instructions you are given about your child’s immunisation. It is recommended that you remain in the clinic with your child for 15 minutes after each immunisation session, just to be sure there are no immediate adverse reactions.

If your child misses an immunisation

To fully protect your child and avoid unnecessary costs, it is best to immunise your child at the recommended age. If you have fallen behind or missed a session, the vaccine schedule can safely be continued as if there had been no delay. There is no need to repeat doses already received or get extra doses. However, a significant delay could mean that your child will not be eligible for a free vaccine, as these are generally given for specified age groups.

Immunisation and HALO

The immunisations you or your child may need are decided by your health, age, lifestyle and occupation. Together, these factors are referred to as HALO.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Your local community health centre
• Your maternal and child health nurse
• Your local council immunisation service
• Department of Health Victoria Immunisation Section Tel. 1300 882 008
• Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (Medicare Australia) Tel. 1800 653 809
• National Immunisation Infoline Tel. 1800 671 811

Things to remember

• Immunisation from an early age is highly recommended for all Australian children to protect them against serious childhood infections.
• The Victorian Childhood Immunisation Schedule outlines the vaccines your child needs and the age at which each should be given.
• Some groups are more at risk than others in the community and may need additional vaccines.
• Remain in the clinic with your child for 15 minutes after their immunisation to be sure there are no immediate adverse reactions.

You might also be interested in:

• Chickenpox - immunisation.
  
• Diphtheria.
  
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
  
• Hepatitis B - immunisation.
  
• Immunisation - facts and misconceptions.
  
• Immunisation - teenagers.
  
• Immunisations - catch-ups.
  
• Measles.
  
• Meningococcal disease - immunisation.
  
• Mumps.
  
• Rubella.
  
• School entry immunisation status certificates.
  
• Tetanus.
  
• Vaccines.
  
• Whooping cough.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

(Logo links to further information)

Department of Health logo

Fact sheet currently being reviewed.
Last reviewed: September 2011

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

If you would like to link to this fact sheet on your website, simply copy the code below and add it to your page:

<a href="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Childhood_immunisation?open">Immunisation - childhood - Better Health Channel</a><br/>
Immunisation protects a child against serious childhood infections. Routine childhood immunisations protect against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal C disease, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), rotavirus, chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Copyight © 1999/2013  State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.