Wanting to learn more about the National and Victorian Vaccine Schedule? Read more about it below.
Vaccinating your child is essential to their health and well-being. Immunisations protect them from serious illness and disease. These vaccinations are free under the Australian National Immunisation Program. At The Community Doctor, we provide specialist advice and seasonal vaccinations for yourself and your child.
Routine vaccinations help protect your child against:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- Polio
- Pneumococcal disease
- Meningococcal ACWY disease
- Hepatitis B
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Rotavirus
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella (German measles)
- Influenza
Vaccinating your child is essential.
A baby will receive some of its mother’s immunity through antibodies transferred during pregnancy and breastfeeding, helping protect them from certain diseases. This is known as passive immunity. These antibodies, however, do not last, putting babies at risk of serious illness without immune protection. Therefore, vaccinating your baby is most important for their overall health and development.
Depending on environmental and genetic factors, some groups of people are more at risk than others in the community. They may require more vaccinations. Most childhood vaccinations are administered via an injection in their arm or leg. The rotavirus vaccine, however, is given by mouth.
By law, your child’s immunisations must be up to date before they start childcare and kindergarten. The Victorian Immunisation Schedule outlines the age at which your child requires each vaccination under the National Immunisation Program.
| Age | Disease | Vaccine brand ® | Common reactions |
| Birth | Hepatitis B | H-B-VaxII Paediatric or Engerix Paediatric | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site |
| 2 months (from 6 weeks) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | Infanrixhexa | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site, drowsiness, irritability/crying |
| Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13 | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site | |
| Rotavirus | Rotarix | Mild temperature | |
|
Meningococcal B (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants only) |
Bexsero | Fever needing paracetamol | |
| 4 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | Infanrixhexa | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site, drowsiness, irritability/crying |
| Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13 | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site | |
| Rotavirus | Rotarix | Mild temperature | |
|
Meningococcal B (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants only) |
Bexsero | Fever needing paracetamol | |
| 6 months | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | Infanrixhexa | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site, drowsiness, irritability/crying |
| 12 months | Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) | M-M-R II/Priorix |
About 7 to 10 days after vaccination: fever (can be over 39°C), faint red non-infectious rash, drowsiness, runny nose, cough or puffy eyes, swollen salivary glands Very rarely a low platelet count causing bleeding and bruising |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Nimenrix | Mild temperature, loss of appetite, irritability/crying pain at the injection site | |
| Pneumococcal | Prevenar 13 | Mild temperature, pain at the injection site | |
|
Meningococcal B (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants only) |
Bexsero | Fever needing paracetamol | |
| 18 months | Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) (MMRV) | Priorix-Tetra or ProQuad |
About 7 to 10 days after vaccination: fever (can be over 39 °C), faint red non-infectious rash, drowsiness, runny nose, cough or puffy eyes, swollen salivary glands About five to 26 days after vaccination: mild rash like chickenpox |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis | Infanrix or Tripacel | Mild temperature, irritability/crying, drowsiness | |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | ActHib | Mild temperature, irritability/crying, pain at the injection site | |
| 4 years | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio | Infanrix IPV or Quadracel | Mild temperature, irritability/crying, drowsiness |
| 6 months of age to less than 5 years of age | Annual influenza | Influenza vaccine | Fever, feeling unwell, muscle aches, injection site pain, redness and swelling |
Extract from the Victorian Department of Health website (November 2021).
