Adults

We recommend you speak with a GP if you have plans to travel as they can advise you on any immunisations you may need. Please ensure you contact them well in advance to ensure you have enough time to be vaccinated.

You can also find information on Smartraveller.

You may require a Yellow Fever immunisation for travel in West Africa, Latin America or outside urban areas of high risk countries.

Only Yellow Fever providers can give you the vaccine.

Please see the Department of Health’s factsheet on Yellow Fever for more information.

When you are pregnant your immune system changes. This means you may be more at risk of some infections and illnesses that can be harmful to you and your baby. 

Immunisation can help protect you against some of these infections. Please discuss this with your doctor or healthcare provider.

• Pregnancy and Immunisation
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough) 
• Pertussis – protecting your newborn Q&A 
• Pertussis – vaccination for pregnant women
• Pertussis Vaccination for Pregnant Women flyer
• Pregnancy and Immunisation flyer
• Are you pregnant – whooping cough pregnant women poster
• Influenza (flu)

Respiratory diseases are a major cause of illness and death in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For this reason, vaccines are recommended and funded for all people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

• Influenza (flu)  
• Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

People over the age 65 have a high risk of Influenza and Pneumococcal. For this reason, vaccines are recommended and funded for everyone in this age group.

• Influenza (flu)  
• Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Free Shingles (Herpes Zoster) vaccine 

A free vaccine against shingles is available for people aged 70 to 79 under the National Immunisation Program.

Shingles is a painful and debilitating skin rash that often includes blisters. The rash usually appears on one side of your face or body and lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. Persistent pain from shingles lesions (known as Post Herpetic Neuralgia) can be very severe and can last for a year or more.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. You can still develop shingles if you have had chickenpox. 

Older people are at high risk of the virus and it can be more severe. 

The vaccine is free for people over 70 as an ongoing program. People aged 71 to 79 are also eligible for the free vaccine through a catch-up program until 2021.

Please speak with your GP for more information. You can also read the Shingles factsheet.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP). 

Intravenous drug users and household contacts of someone with Hepatitis B can access the vaccine for free through your doctor.

We also recommend the vaccine if you:

• have multiple sexual partners
• have certain chronic medical conditions and impaired immunity
• have chronic liver disease or Hepatitis C
• have an occupational risk, including healthcare workers, embalmers, tattooists and body-piercers, acupuncturists and sex workers
• are a resident or staff member of a facility for people with intellectual disabilities
• are an inmate or staff member of a long-term correction facility
• travel to regions where Hepatitis B is common
• are a migrant from a country where Hepatitis B is common
• identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person

Please Note: funding is not always available for these groups of people.

Please see the links below on the recommended immunisations.

• Health Care Worker (HCW)
• Persons who work with Children
• Laboratory personnel
• Persons who work with animals
• Carers
• Emergency and essential Services workers
• Persons who work with specific communities
• Other person exposed to human tissue, blood, body fluids or sewage
   

Please complete the Immunisation Adverse Event Reporting Form or call the Immunisation Unit on 02 6205 2300 if you experience an adverse event following an immunisation.

• Adverse events fact sheet
• Adverse events
• Common side effects of vaccine