View source for National Immunisation Program Schedule

{{about|the National Immunisation Program Schedule in Australia|a timeline of vaccines|Timeline of vaccines}}
{{Infobox medical intervention (new)
| name          = National Immunisation Program Schedule
| uses          = The National Immunisation Program is designed to prevent disease in Australia. The schedule sets out all vaccines available in the program
| outcomes      = Vaccinations create immunity against harmful pathogens
| frequency     = The immunisations range from birth through to adulthood
<!-- Infobox does not support the following parameter:| cost          = All vaccines listed in the program are free under Medicare benefits -->
|image=[[File:SalkatPitt.jpg|SalkatPitt]]|caption=Jonas Salk holding two bottles containing the polio vaccine he created in 1955 
{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes| The photograph is of Jonas Salk, the author of the photograph is The Owl, and the photograph was taken in 1957}}|field=Health and Medicine|alt=Source: University of Pittsburgh Digital Archives. This photo was previously published in 1957 Owl student yearbook of the University of Pittsburgh, pg.14-15. Author: The Owl.}}

The Australian '''National Immunisation Program Schedule''' sets out the [[Immunization|immunisations]] Australians are given at different stages in their life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-throughout-life/national-immunisation-program-schedule|title=National Immunisation Program Schedule|last=Health|first=Australian Government Department of|date=2017-10-16|website=Australian Government Department of Health|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref> The program aims to reduce the number of preventable disease cases in Australia by increasing national immunisation coverage.<ref name=":0" /> The program starts for an Australian when they are born. Vaccinations are given at birth, then again when the baby is 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 months and 18 months. The immunisation schedule continues when the child is 4 years old, and then into adolescent years.  The program is not compulsory and parents have the choice if they want their child vaccinated.

== Background ==
The National Immunisation Program was first introduced in [[Australia]] in 1997. The program was set up by the [[Australian Commonwealth|Commonwealth]], state and territory governments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/national-immunisation-program|title=National Immunisation Program|last=Health|first=Australian Government Department of|date=2018-04-20|website=Australian Government Department of Health|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref> The most recent update to the National Immunisation Program was effective since 1 April 2019. This was an update from the 2007 schedule, one change including the introduction of [[Meningococcal disease|meningococcal ACWY]] vaccination for adolescents. The National Immunisation Program Schedule includes vaccines that are funded for children, adolescents and adults.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncirs.org.au/health-professionals/immunisation-schedules|title=Immunisation schedules {{!}} NCIRS|website=www.ncirs.org.au|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref> Additional vaccinations necessary when traveling to particular countries are not included in the program, nor are they funded.

"At September 2019, the national immunisation coverage rates were:

* 94.27% for all one-year-olds
* 91.43% for all two-year-olds
* 94.82% for all five-year-olds" according to the Australian Government Department of Health.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/childhood-immunisation-coverage/immunisation-coverage-rates-for-all-children|title=Immunisation coverage rates for all children|last=Health|first=Australian Government Department of|date=2017-12-21|website=Australian Government Department of Health|language=en|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref>

The national coverage rate has increased over the last 10 years, as of 2019.<ref name=":4" />

== National Immunisation Program Schedule ==

===Childhood vaccinations===
[[File:Needle injection stock footage.webm|thumb|Video: Vaccines are injected using a needle. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a work in the [[public domain]]: stock footage of injection during vaccination / immunisation, the author of the video was Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|412x412px]]'''Birth'''<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-throughout-life/national-immunisation-program-schedule|title=National Immunisation Program Schedule|last=Health|first=Australian Government Department of|date=2017-10-16|website=Australian Government Department of Health|language=en|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref>

* Hepatitis B

'''2 weeks (Can be given from 6 weeks of age)''' <ref name=":13" />

* Diphtheria 
* Tetanus 
* Pertussis (whooping cough) 
* Hepatitis B 
* Polio 
* Haemophilus influenzae type b 
* Pneumococcal 
* Rotavirus ("First dose must be given by 14 weeks of age, and the second dose by 24 weeks of age")<ref name=":13" />

'''4 months''' <ref name=":13" />

* Diphtheria
* Tetanus
* Pertussis (whooping cough)
* Hepatitis B, polio
* Haemophilus influenzae type b 
* Pneumococcal
* Rotavirus

'''6 months''' <ref name=":13" />

* Diphtheria 
* Tetanus
* Pertussis (whooping cough)
* Hepatitis B, polio
* Haemophilus influenzae type b

'''12 months''' <ref name=":13" />

* Meningococcal ACWY
* Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR Vaccine)
* Pneumococcal

'''18 months''' <ref name=":13" />

* Haemophilus influenzae type b 
* Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR Vaccine)
* Varicella (chickenpox)
* Diphtheria
* Tetanus
* Pertussis (whooping cough)

'''4 years''' <ref name=":13" />

* Diphtheria
* Tetanus
* Pertussis (whooping cough)
* Polio

===Adolescent vaccinations===
'''12 – 13 years''' <ref name=":13" />

* Human papillomavirus (HPV)
* Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)

'''14 – 16 years''' <ref name=":13" />

* Meningococcal ACWY

===Adult vaccinations===
'''15 – 49 years''' <ref name=":13" />

* Pneumococcal

'''50 years and over'''<ref name=":13" />

* Pneumococcal

'''70 – 79 years'''  <ref name=":13" />

* Shingles (herpes zoster)

<br />
== See also ==
* [[COVID-19 vaccination in Australia]]
* [[Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation]]
== Citations and references ==
{{reflist}}

*''attribution'' contains material from https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/flu.aspx which is available under a CC-BY-4.0 license with attribution "State of New South Wales NSW Ministry of Health. For current information go to www.health.nsw.gov.au."

[[Category:Vaccination in Australia]]