Catch-up vaccinations
Assessing and updating children and adult immunisations is important for managing their healthcare.
People under 20 years of age (under 26 for HPV catch up vaccination) and all refugee and humanitarian entrants are eligible for funded catch-up of age-appropriate vaccines.
Catch-up vaccines should be provided as quickly as possible to provide optimal protection, and you should enter all vaccines given in Australia or overseas onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
For a list of catch-up vaccines for eligible cohorts visit the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
To help plan catch-up schedules, visit:
- catch-up vaccination – Australian Immunisation Handbook
- World Health Organisation vaccination schedule.
Adolescents – schools' programs
Adolescents in Years 7 and 10 who missed receiving a vaccine at school during the Child and Adolescent Immunisation Team visit can be given a funded catch-up dose up to their 20th birthday for dTpa and Meningococcal ACWY vaccine. They can also receive a funded catch-up HPV vaccine up to their 26th birthday.
These vaccines can be given at any time after the missed dose at either their GP or participating pharmacy. They do not need a letter before making an appointment for missed vaccines.
- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (dTpa) (Year 7)
- human papillomavirus (HPV) (Year 7)
- meningococcal ACWY (Year 10).
Remember to check the Australian Immunisation Register before all vaccinations.