Childhood Immunisations

It is important for young children to be immunised as it is a safe and effective way to protect you and your children from harmful, contagious diseases. It also safeguards the health of other people, now and for future generations.

Children should be vaccinated as close as possible to the scheduled milestones. This is because each dose of every vaccine given to babies and children is carefully chosen to provide them with the earliest protection.

6 weeks

Once your baby reaches 6 weeks, they need to be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b, Hepatitis B, Polio, Pneumococcal and Rotavirus. This equates to your baby receiving Infanrix Hexa (IM) and Prevenar 13 (IM) as seperate injections and Rotarix in an oral form.

If your baby identifies as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, then they will need to be vaccinated against Meningococcal B by receiving the Bexsero (IM) vaccine.

4 months

At 4 months your child will be given the second dose of the same vaccines received at 6 weeks.
To ensure that the experience for both you and your child remains minimally distressing, our friendly nurse will help in giving the vaccine. Generally our doctor will give one needle, while our nurse gives the other at the same time. This ensures that the process is quick and causes little upset.

6 months

When your child reaches 6 months they will need to be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b, Hepatitis B and Polio. They will receive a single vaccine called Infanrix Hexa (IM).

12 months

Once your child is 12 months old they are at risk of getting Meningococcal ACWY, Pneumococcal, Measles, Mumps and Rubella. To prevent this, they will be vaccinated with Nimenrix (IM), Prevenar 13 (IM) and MMR II or Priorix (IM or SC).

Since these are three needles that your child will need to receive they may get agitated. To try and minimise any distress our nurse will help the doctor with giving the vaccines.

If your child identifies as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander, they will need to receive a fourth vaccine called Bexsero (IM) which will help protect them against Meningococcal B.

18 months

Being 18 months old means that your child will need to receive another round of vaccines which will help protect them against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Your child will be vaccinated with Infanrix or Tripacel (IM), Priorix Tetra or Proquad (IM or SC) and Act-HIB (IM or SC). This adds up to them receiving 3 needles.

To avoid distress and agitation, our nurse will help the doctor in vaccinating your child.

4 years

The final age for childhood vaccines is 4 years old where your child will be vaccinated against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio. This final vaccination is provided in one injection with either Infanrix-IPV or Quadracel (IM).

Birth

When babies are born, it is recommended that within 7 days they should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. The vaccine which is given to protect against this disease is either H-B-Vax II or Engerix B (IM). This should be given ideally within 24 hours of birth.

Source: Australian Government Department of Health