How does immunisation work?

Immunisation is the process of your body’s immune system learning how to protect you from an infectious disease. Vaccination refers to when you receive the injection or oral dose of medicine.

Vaccination triggers immunisation in the body.

How does vaccination work?

Vaccines are medicines that contain a tiny amount of a virus or bacteria. After exposure to the vaccine, your body makes antibodies designed to attack that specific virus or bacteria. If you are exposed to the disease in the future, your body recognises it and can produce antibodies more quickly. This helps your body fight the disease more effectively, sometimes even before you develop symptoms of the disease.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approves vaccines for use in Australia. The TGA uses a strict process. This includes checking every ingredient in the vaccine for safety, quality and effectiveness.

How long does it take for vaccines to work?

Some vaccines work after one dose, while others need more than one dose (‘boosters’) to work well. Boosters are extra vaccine doses that help your child be fully immunised (protected) against the disease.

The recommended timing of the doses (‘schedule’) varies with different vaccines.

What is the recommended schedule of childhood vaccines in Australia?

The National Immunisation Schedule is a guide that lists which vaccines are recommended for your child, and the recommended age at which they should receive them.

These vaccines are free under the National Immunisation Program for anyone with a Medicare number.

Vaccinations included in the National Immunisation Program include:

Download this guide as a PDF

Additional immunisations

Your child may be offered additional vaccinations if they are considered at higher risk of certain diseases. Groups that may be considered ‘high risk’ include:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
• children with certain medical conditions
• children who were born prematurely
• children who are travelling overseas

Speak to your GP or immunisation provider if you think your child may be in a high-risk group.

Why are so many vaccinations recommended for children?

Each type of vaccine recommended for your child will help protect them from a serious disease. Vaccines save millions of lives.

Children get more vaccines today than in the past because there are more vaccines available on the NIP schedule now than in the past. This is because our ability to prevent diseases with vaccines has improved, as medical research continues.

Your child may need more than one dose of a vaccine for long-term protection. These doses are given at different ages.

What can I expect when my child is vaccinated?

Your doctor or vaccination provider will ask you some questions about your child’s health before vaccinating your child, to check for any concerns.

You must give your verbal or written consent for your child to be vaccinated.

Depending on the type of vaccine and your child’s age and size, they may have the vaccine via a needle in the arm or leg, or drops in the mouth.

You and your child should wait in the clinic or community health setting for at least 15 minutes after having the vaccine, to make sure your child is feeling well and isn’t experiencing any serious side effects.

Do vaccination needles hurt my child?

Needles can cause pain and distress for your child. Your child may cry during or after having a needle, and this can be upsetting for both of you.

Here is how you can help comfort your baby or child during and after their vaccination:

• Talk to them gently in a soothing tone of voice.
• Sing to them.
• Press something cool on the injection site (after vaccination).
• Cuddle them.
• Continue breastfeeding. If you are interested in breastfeeding your child while they receive the vaccine, ask your nurse or health worker how to best position yourselves.

If your child is in pain, or has a reaction to a vaccine, such as a fever, ask your doctor about giving them paracetamol. Read more on fever in babies and children.

Combination vaccines protect against more than one disease in a single injection. This helps reduce the number of injections your child needs.

It’s safe to give babies and children more than one vaccine in a single injection, and it’s safe to have several vaccines at one time. Speak with your doctor or nurse, if you have any questions or concerns about the immunisation schedule.

What are the side effects of vaccinations?

Side effects from vaccines are usually mild and short-lasting. These can include:

• pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
• mild fever
• being unsettled

Most mild side effects last only for a few days, and are part of the body’s natural response to the vaccine.

Sometimes a small, pea-sized lump can appear at the injection site, known as a ‘nodule’. Nodules aren’t common, but they can last for weeks, or sometimes months. There may be tenderness or itch, but they will usually resolve on their own and shouldn’t cause your child any discomfort. Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns.

Serious or long-lasting side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare. You can speak with your doctor about the possible side effects of the specific vaccine your child is getting.

It’s important to remember that it is safer to be vaccinated than to get the disease. Your child is less likely to experience a serious complication from the vaccine than from the disease that you are immunising against.

It’s recommended for you and your child to stay in the waiting room or clinic for at least 15 minutes after vaccination, so they have access to medical care in case a rare side effect occurs. If you have questions or concerns, speak with your doctor or nurse.

Giving paracetamol before vaccination to prevent fever

If your child has pain at the injection site, or a fever over 38.5°C, you can give them paracetamol to help relieve their symptoms. There is no recommendation to give your child paracetamol routinely before every vaccination, ‘just in case’ they get a fever.

The only exception to this advice is for young children receiving a meningococcal B vaccine.

If your child is under the age of 2 and is getting the meningococcal B vaccine, it’s recommended to give 3 doses of paracetamol as follows:

• Dose 1 — 30 minutes before their vaccination or as soon as possible afterwards
• Dose 2 — 6 hours after the first paracetamol dose, even if they don't have a fever
• Dose 3 — 6 hours after the second paracetamol dose, even if they don't have a fever

Ask your doctor or vaccine provider for advice if you are unsure.

Where can I have my child vaccinated?

Babies and young children can get their vaccinations from a:

• general practitioner (GP)
• child health clinic
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community health services

Vaccinations offered at birth are usually given in hospital.

How much do vaccinations cost in Australia?

Most childhood vaccinations are free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) if your child has a Medicare number.

Sometimes a doctor, nurse or pharmacist will charge a fee for the vaccination service. Ask your service provider about fees when you book a vaccination appointment.

What is the Australian Immunisation Register?

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a record of all vaccinations given in Australia. When your child gets a vaccine, it will be recorded on the AIR. This helps you track your children’s immunisations. The doctor or nurse who gives the vaccination will also record it in your child’s Personal Health Record booklet that you got when your baby was born.

You can check the AIR to know when your child’s next vaccination is due.

You can get your child’s Immunisation History Statement through your myGov account online, or by calling Services Australia on 1800 653 809. You can also ask your doctor.

What is ‘no jab, no pay’?

If a child has not had all routine vaccinations on the National Immunisation Program schedule, their family will not be eligible for the full Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A or for child care fee assistance. This is called the 'no jab, no pay' policy.

If your child has an approved reason that exempts them from vaccination, you may still be able to get the full benefit. If they are in an approved catch-up schedule, you may also be able to get the full benefit.

Resources and support

All parents play an important role in keeping their children healthy — this includes vaccination. If you have any questions about immunisations and vaccinations for your baby or child, ask your doctor or child health nurse.

The Australian Government has a video series on childhood immunisation.

You can also find more information on vaccines and immunisation here:

• Immunisation Coalition
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
• Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
  • Questions about vaccination
  • Easy read resources
  • Immunisation — video resources

Learn more about vaccine-preventable diseases, and the current recommendations for vaccinations:

• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis B
• Measles
• Meningococcal B
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal
• Polio
• Rotavirus
• Rubella
• Tetanus
• Whooping cough (pertussis)

Languages other than English

The Australian Government has resources on childhood immunisation available in a range of community languages.

Health Translations Victoria has a factsheet on accessing your immunisation records in several community languages. There are also resources with immunisation information for parents enrolling a child in childcare or kindergarten.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Australian Government has a collection of childhood immunisation resources for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Queensland Health has a Bubba Jabs poster showing when your child’s vaccinations are scheduled.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.