Getting your child vaccinated from an early age helps protect them against serious infections now and in the future.

Babies are especially vulnerable to disease because their immune and major organ systems aren’t fully developed.

Free flu vaccinations

Getting a yearly flu vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Your child can get the free nasal spray vaccine if they’re aged between 2 to 5 years old (before they turn 6). They can also get it if they’re aged between 6 and 17 years old (before they turn 18) and they struggle with getting a needle.

Vaccination schedule

Your child might need to get 2 to 4 different vaccines at certain ages. It’s also important that they get their vaccines on time.

If your child has medically at-risk conditions, they may need extra vaccines. Talk to your GP for more information.

Birth

When your baby is born, they should have a hepatitis B vaccination within 24 hours of their birth. If they can’t get it at birth, they can have it up to 7 days after.

Some newborn babies should also get an RSV immunisation. Talk to your baby's healthcare provider to see if this is right for your baby.

If you live in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, your child should also have a Tuberculosis vaccination. They can have it after they’re born, or up to 5 years of age.

2 months old

All children should get the following vaccinations:

4 months old

All children should get the following vaccinations:

6 months old

All children should get the following vaccinations:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children should also get a pneumococcal vaccination.

12 months old

All children should get the following vaccinations:

Children with complex medical conditions should also get an RSV immunisation before their second RSV season. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider to see if this is right for your child.

18 months old

All children should get the following vaccinations:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children should also get a hepatitis A vaccination.

4 years old

All children should get a DTPa-IPV (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio) vaccination. This is given as one dose.

All people from 6 months of age should get an influenza vaccination every year.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children should also get hepatitis A and pneumococcal vaccinations. They should get 2 doses of pneumococcal, one at 4 years of age and another at least 5 years later.

When your child has a vaccination

When you take your child to get a vaccination, ask your healthcare provider or vaccination service any questions you might have.

After they have their vaccination, we recommend you stay in the clinic with your child for at least 15 minutes. This it to make sure they don’t have any immediate side effects.

Once your healthcare provider or vaccination service has given your child their vaccination, they’ll send their vaccination details to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The AIR collects vaccination information for all children, adolescents and adults in Australia. Learn more about the AIR on the Services Australia website.

When you visit your GP or vaccination provider, take your child’s red book or immunisation record if you have one.

Not vaccinating your child

If you choose not to vaccinate your child, they have a higher risk of serious infectious diseases and possible consequences, such as disability or even death.

Vaccinating your child helps reduce the number of people who may have a virus. This helps protect more vulnerable people like very young children, older people and people with certain medical conditions.

Making vaccinations easier

Getting your child vaccinated can be challenging especially if your child starts to cry, gets restless or angry. To help them you can:

  • hug or hold them firmly during their vaccination
  • breast or bottle feed during their vaccination
  • distract them with their favourite book or toy
  • ask for a pain reliever
  • be honest and calm with them.

Vaccinations for preterm babies

If your baby is preterm, they may need extra doses of some vaccines. Talk to your vaccination service provider for more information.

There’s proof that healthy preterm babies respond well to full vaccine doses.

If your baby is sick or has a low body weight, talk to your doctor or other vaccination service provider about a modified schedule.

What to tell your vaccination service provider

Tell your provider if your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, as they may need extra vaccinations. You should also tell them about your child’s health.

Is unwell or has had a reaction

  • Is unwell or has a temperature over 38.5°C
  • Has had a severe reaction to a previous vaccine

Has allergies or recent vaccines or treatments

  • Has severe allergies to medicines or other substances
  • Has had a vaccine in the past month
  • Has had immunoglobulin, blood products or a blood transfusion in the past year

Has a medical condition or was born early

  • Was born before 32 weeks or weighed less than 2 kg at birth
  • Has a chronic illness, bleeding disorder or no functioning spleen
  • Has had intussusception (a type of bowel blockage)

Has a weakened immune system, or lives with someone who does

  • Has a condition that lowers immunity, or is having treatment that lowers immunity
  • Lives with someone who has a weakened immune system or is having treatment that lowers immunity

Catch ups

If you’ve missed a vaccination, you can catch up. Talk to your vaccination service provider if you think you need to catch up on a vaccination.

Boosters

Different vaccines provide immunity for varying lengths of time.

A booster is an extra dose of a vaccine that you’ve had before. It boosts your immunity against vaccine preventable diseases.

Vaccination information in your language

You can find information about vaccination in your language on the Queensland Government website.

You can also watch our video.

Before you start it, select CC to choose your language.

Duration: 4:38

Vaccines for babies and children

In Australia, vaccination is recommended for children at birth, at two, four, six, 12 and 18 months of age and again at four years of age.

All children from six months of age should also have the flu vaccine each year.
The flu vaccine is free in Queensland for children aged from six months to less than five years.

Children from other countries may need to catch up on vaccines recommended in the National Immunisation Programme Schedule.

All children's vaccinations should be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. This is also called the AIR. Your doctor or immunisation service provider will record your child's vaccines for you.

Most child care centres in Queensland will ask you for your child's immunisation record. This is also called an
Immunisation History Statement. This shows if your child is up to date with their vaccinations. Your child's school may also ask for this statement.

Vaccinations your child has had in another country can also be added to your child's immunisation record on the AIR. Give a copy of your child's record to your immunisation provider and ask for the information to be added to the AIR.

If your child's immunisations are not up to date you may miss out on government childcare payments and other family assistance payments.

Ask your doctor to print a copy of your child's immunisation records or call the Australian Immunisation Register 1800 653 809. They will post it to you.

If you need help with English you can use an interpreter by calling 131 450. This service is free.

You can also download your child's immunisation record from your Medicare account through my.gov.au on your computer or your mobile phone.

If your child has an overseas immunisation record in a language other than English you can get the record translated for free. Visit translating.dss.gov.au for more information.

Where to get vaccinated

Getting vaccinated is easy. You can get your vaccination from a GP, pharmacy, community clinic, or another vaccination provider.

You can get the COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as your flu vaccine.

Find out where to get vaccinated.

Find out more

For more information about vaccination, contact your health provider or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) .

Last updated: May 2026

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