Victorian Immunisation Schedule
What vaccines your baby needs, when they are due, and why each one matters.
- Last reviewed
- Sources cited
- 6 sources
- Author
- Dr Jubal John, FRACP
- Category
- medical guides
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Take-home
Vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule are free, safe, and give your baby protection against serious infections. Sticking to the timing matters, each dose builds on the last. If you miss a dose, you can catch up; contact your GP or maternal child health nurse to arrange it.
How the schedule works
Your baby’s vaccines follow the National Immunisation Program (NIP) with extras added by the Victorian Government. All NIP vaccines are free. A few optional vaccines (like Meningococcal B) can be given at extra cost if you and your doctor decide they are right for your baby.
Where vaccines are given
- Your GP or practice nurse
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses at council-run clinics
- Some public immunisation sessions run by your local council
- Frances Perry House for the birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine
Schedule from birth to 18 months
Vaccine names in full:
- 6-in-1 (DTPa-HepB-IPV-Hib): diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b
- PCV (20vPCV, Prevenar 20): pneumococcal, 20-valent; replaced the older 13-valent vaccine on the NIP from September 2025
- Rotavirus: oral; the first dose must be given by 14 weeks, the second by 24 weeks
- MMR: measles, mumps, rubella; MMRV adds varicella (chickenpox)
- MenACWY: meningococcal serogroups A, C, W and Y
- DTPa booster, same components as in the 6-in-1 (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough)
- Hib booster, separate dose at 18 months
Always use the current schedule
Schedules update from time to time. The live, authoritative version sits on the Department of Health website and the Victorian Health website. Your baby’s My Health Record and the Australian Immunisation Register track what’s been given.
Before your appointment
- Bring your baby’s health record book (the “Green Book”)
- Tell the doctor or nurse about any allergies or reactions from previous doses
- A runny nose or mild cough is not a reason to delay, your baby can still be vaccinated
- If your baby has a high fever (≥38.5°C) or is very unwell, your doctor may suggest rebooking
After the vaccine
Most babies are grizzly, sleepy, or sore for a day or two. Cuddles and ordinary feeds are usually all that’s needed.
Helping your baby
- Extra cuddles and breast or bottle feeds
- A cool, damp cloth on the injection site if it is red or swollen
- Paracetamol is sometimes recommended, check the correct dose with your GP, MCH nurse, or pharmacist
- Watch for the side-effect window: most reactions happen in the first 24–48 hours
Common, expected reactions
- Mild fever
- Redness or swelling at the injection site
- Being more unsettled or sleepy than usual
- Slight loss of appetite for a feed or two
Less common reactions (still usually fine)
- Fever above 38.5°C
- Small firm lump at the injection site lasting a few weeks
- A rash 7–10 days after MMR (measles-like) that is not contagious
Seek medical attention
Severe reactions are rare but take them seriously. See When to seek help below.
Optional vaccines to discuss with your doctor
Meningococcal B (Bexsero)
- When: can start from 6 weeks–2 months of age
- Doses: started under 12 months, 2 doses, 2 months apart, plus a booster at/after 12 months (2+1). Started at 12 months or later, 2 doses, 2 months apart.
- Cost: not funded for most infants, available privately at an additional cost (your GP or pharmacy can advise on the current price). Free under the NIP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants (at 2, 4 and 12 months) and for children with specific medical risk conditions, check with your GP. (Victoria’s new state-funded MenB program covers Year 10 students from 2027, not infants.)
- Paracetamol with this one: Bexsero is the exception to “only if uncomfortable”, for children under 2, the Immunisation Handbook recommends prophylactic paracetamol (a dose 30 minutes before or at the time of vaccination, then two more doses 6 hours apart) because fever is common after MenB vaccine.
- Why consider: protects against the B strain of meningococcal disease, which can cause severe illness quickly in young children
RSV protection: newest addition to the program
Not a baby vaccine, but two funded ways to protect newborns from RSV (the bronchiolitis virus):
- Maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo): a single dose in pregnancy from 28 weeks, free under the NIP. Antibodies cross the placenta and protect the baby for their first months.
- Nirsevimab: a long-acting monoclonal antibody given to the baby, funded during RSV season for infants whose mothers didn’t receive the maternal vaccine (or received it less than 2 weeks before birth), and for some higher-risk infants in their second season.
The details are in the bronchiolitis guide, if you’re pregnant now, ask your obstetrician about the maternal dose; if your baby is here and unprotected, ask us or your GP about nirsevimab.
Influenza (seasonal)
- When: every autumn from 6 months of age
- Doses: first year, 2 doses 4 weeks apart; then 1 dose each year
- Cost: free for children aged 6 months to under 5 years
- Why consider: protects against flu and its complications, especially important if anyone in your household is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised
Common questions
Are combination vaccines (several in one) safe?
Yes. Combination vaccines have been used for decades and have been shown to work as well as single vaccines while reducing the number of injections.
We missed a vaccine: is it too late?
No. Catch-up schedules are available for any age. Ring your GP or MCH nurse as soon as you can and they will book you in.
My baby has a mild cold. Should we delay?
Generally no. Minor illness is not a reason to postpone. Your doctor will check your baby on the day.
Why does my baby need so many vaccines at once?
Babies are exposed to hundreds of new germs each day. Their immune systems are well able to respond to several vaccines at once. Combining them protects them sooner.
Can vaccines cause autism?
No. The claim that MMR causes autism was based on a single discredited study that has since been retracted. A 2014 meta-analysis covering over 1.2 million children (Taylor et al, Vaccine 2014) found no association between vaccines and autism. The Australian Immunisation Handbook and NCIRS both summarise the evidence for parents.
When to seek help
Watch closely — MCH Line 13 22 29 for advice
Normal (manage at home)
- Mild fever under 38.5°C
- Small redness at the injection site
- Being a bit more sleepy or grizzly for a day or two
Watch and see your GP
- Fever 38.5°C or above that does not settle with paracetamol
- A firm lump at the injection site that is growing
- Any reaction you are worried about
Call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department now
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or swelling of the face, lips or tongue
- Floppy or unresponsive
- A seizure or convulsion
- Widespread rash with illness
- Any signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
Summary
Key points to remember
- The national immunisation schedule is safe, free, and very effective
- Vaccines at the right age give your baby the best protection
- It is never too late to catch up
- Keep your baby’s immunisation record handy, especially for childcare enrolment
- Talk to your GP or MCH nurse if you have any concerns (immunisations are given and reviewed in primary care)