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Catch-up immunisation in refugees

  • Covid vaccination

    See talking points for health providers and Covid vaccination resources on our Covid-19 page - updated fortnightly. Covid vaccine can be given together with influenza and other vaccines. Annual flu vaccine is recommended for all people 6 months and older, and remains important with COVID-19 - see fact sheet. Guidelines for managing LGA immunisation in the setting of COVID-19 are available.

    Background

    Vaccine preventable diseases are endemic and/or epidemic in countries of origin of refugee families, and disruptions to health care may affect vaccine quality and access to vaccination. Information on vaccination coverage and disease status in country of origin is available from the World Health Organization (WHO), including  immunisation schedules by country. See the Australian Immunisation Handbook1 for specific information on catch-up vaccination, vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule, and guidance on catch-up for  <10 years and  10 years and older.

      Please also see the Victorian Immunisation Schedule. Major recent changes include reduction to single dose HPV vaccine for immune competent adolescents/young adults 9-25 years (6 Feb 2023) and updated Covid booster advice (8 Feb 2023), recommending a 2023 booster for people whose last vaccine or confirmed infection was >=6 months previously (regardless of prior doses).

      Table 1. Catch-up vaccination guidelines

      Vaccine type Age,
      Number of doses
      Route and dose Minimum dosing interval (months) Notes
      Diphtheria Tetanus 
      Pertussis (DTP, dTp)
      <4 years
      4 or 5 doses DTPa
      IM 
      0.5 ml
      1,1*,6** 3 doses for primary series then **4th dose at 18 months of age or 6 months after primary course. If 4 doses of DTP given before age 18 months, give a 5th dose at 4 years, reflecting the NIP which includes dose 4 at 18 months and dose 5 at 4 years. If the 4th dose is given after the child is 3.5 years the 5th dose is not required, and in this case the next dose is the early adolescent booster dose. A hexavalent vaccine is available in all jurisdictions, (combining DTPa with IPV/Hib/HepB). *If using the hexavalent vaccine combined with hepatitis B, the dosing interval changes (2 months between doses 2 and 3 and 4 months between dose 1 and 3).
      4-9 years 
      4 doses DTPa
      IM
      0.5 ml
      1,1*,6** 3 doses for primary series then **4th dose 6 months after primary course. Hexavalent vaccine as above.
      10 years and older 
      3 doses (dTpa)
      IM 
      0.5 ml
      1,1

      Up to 3 doses of dTpa may now be used (previously dTpa, dT, dT), then 10-year and 20-year booster dTpa. dTpa is now available combined with IPV (dTpa-IPV). 

      dTpa is also recommended for pregnant women between 20-32 weeks gestation in every pregnancy (can be given any time up to delivery); partners of women who are at least 28 weeks gestation if no booster for 10 years, and parents of children <6 months if no booster for 10 years.

      Measles
      Mumps
      Rubella (MMR)
      (LAV)
      <10 years
      2 doses
      IM or SC* 
      0.5 ml
      1

      2nd dose due at 3.5–4 years if <3.5 years at first dose.
      MMR (*given IM) is now available combined with Varicella Vaccine (VV) as MMR-V (*given SC) – although MMR-V is not recommended as the first dose of MMR containing vaccine in children <4 years, due to increased risk of fever/febrile convulsions in this setting.

      Recent changes (April 2019) have lowered the recommended age at which infants can receive MMR in special circumstances - from 9 months to 6 months. Infants 6 months and older can receive MMR as post-exposure prophylaxis, or during outbreaks (or for travel to endemic areas). 

      10 years and older (born 1966 or later) 
      2 doses
      IM or SC* 
      0.5 ml
      1 Note: MMR now given as part of Departure Health Check for Offshore Humanitarian arrivals aged 9 months – 54 years, consider timing if administering TST for tuberculosis (TB) screening or live viral vaccines. 
      MMR-V (*given SC) can be given as the first dose in children 4 years and older (followed by MMR alone), but is not recommended in those aged 14 years and older.
      Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (IPV)

      <4 years
      4 doses*         
      4 years and older 
      3 doses 

      Varies** 0.5 ml

      1,1, varies*

      1,1

      *4th dose required if aged <4 years for primary course. Different combination vaccines available, combined with DTPa/dTpa/HiB/Hep B. Hexavalent vaccine dosing as above. Also available as dTpa-IPV.
      **IPV in combination vaccines given IM, IPV alone given SC. Note: OPV and IPV are considered interchangeable (OPV may have been given prior to travel to Australia from certain countries).
      Hepatitis B <11 years
      3 doses
      IM 
      0.5 ml
      1,2** Combination vaccines are available, *dosing intervals complex, minimal dosing intervals: 1 month between dose 1 and 2; 2 months between doses 2 and 3; and 4 months between dose 1 and 3.
      11-15 years
      2 doses (adult formulation)
      IM 
      1 ml
      4 Alternate regimen is 3 doses paediatric formulation (0.5 ml) as above.
      16 years and older 
      3 doses*
      IM 
      varies**
      1,2** *Age 16–19 years 3 doses paediatric formulation (0.5 ml), 20 years and older 3 doses adult formulation (1 ml). Dosing intervals as above.
      Meningococcal ACWY Any* 
      1 or 2 doses** 
      IM 
      0.5 ml   
       (2)

      *Normally given at age 12 months, disease has bimodal peaks in incidence of <5 years and 15–24 years, MenC catch-up previously funded to 19 years (born>1987). Consider providing MenACWY if previous meningococcal vaccination was provided as MenC. 

      **Nimenrix = 1 dose, Menveo/Menactra = 2 doses, 8 weeks apart. 

      15-19 years (year 10 or equivalent)  1 dose

      IM     0.5 ml   –

      Also provided for year 10 students (and available in Victoria for those aged 15–19 years, State-based program).

      Additional doses of meningococcal ACWY vaccine recommended in asplenia.

      Haemophilus influenzae
      type b (Hib)
      2-17 months 
      1-3 doses then booster* 
      18-59 months 
      1 dose 
      IM 
      0.5 ml
      1 or 2* 
      varies* 2  

      Required in children <5 years of age. Not required 5 years and older, unless special circumstances, including  asplenia  but may be given as part of combination vaccines. Children <10 years generally receive multiple doses of Hib through the use of combination vaccines (e.g. hexavalent DTPa/IPV/HiB/HepB). 

      Refer to Immunisation Handbook for catch-up schedule in younger children – <7 months – 3 doses then booster at 18 months, 7–11 months 2 doses then booster at 18 months, 12–17 months 1 dose then booster at 18 months or 2 months after last dose (whichever is later). If a child has received PRP-OMP Hib vaccine for the first 2 doses, they do not require a 3rd dose but should still have a booster at 18 months.

      Pneumococcal conjugate (13vPCV)

      <12 months
      3 doses 

      12–59 months 
      1 dose

      IM    0.5 ml

      1,1 


      Now given at 2,4 and 12 months of age in NIP, with an extra dose at 6m for children with medical risk factors. 

      Required in all children <5 years of age, and 5 years and older if medical risk factors. If providing catch-up for children who have medical risk factors: <12 months – 4 doses required, and 12-59 months – 2 doses required. Dosing interval is 1 month for <12 months age or 2 months for 12 months of age and older. 

      People with medical risk factors require extra doses of 13vPCV and 23vPPV (minimum 8 weeks apart) see Immunisation Handbook.

      Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPSV) 65 years IM    0.5 ml   –

      Age 65 years and older.

      People with medical risk factors as above. See Immunisation Handbook.

      Varicella (VV)
      (LAV)

      18 months –
      13 years 
      1 dose 

      14 years and older* 
      2 doses

      SC 
      0.5 ml

       


      All children <14 years should have at least one dose of VV (and preferably two doses of VV), usually given as either VV or MMR-V at 18 months. Prior varicella infection is not a contraindication. If varicella containing vaccine is given <12 months of age, the dose should be repeated at 18 months. MMR-V is not recommended as the first dose of MMR containing vaccine in children <4 years, due to increased risk of fever/febrile convulsions, and is not recommended in those aged 14 years and older.

      *VV is recommended in non-immune adolescents/adults 14 years and older (no clinical history and negative serology). People 14 years and older with a reliable history of varicella should be considered immune; check serology if no clinical history of varicella infection.

      Herpes zoster (LAV)

      70-79 years
      1 dose

      SC 
      0.5 ml
      Recommended at age 70 years, 5-year catch-up program available for those age 71–79 years (starting 2018). Exclude previous dosing and contraindications, and check decision aid.
      Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

      9-25 years - suggest 12-25 years to match NIP.                    1 dose*

      IM 
      0.5 ml


      *Changed to single dose regimen Feb 2023 for immune competent people aged 9-25 years (reducing lower age and raising upper age for catch-up (from 19 years), however included at 12-13 years in NIP. Also recommended in all MSM (any age - consider past/future exposure, only funded to 25y), not recommended adults 26 years and older otherwise. Recommended for immunocompromised (suggest 9 years and older) - 3-dose schedule, 0,2,6 months (also noting licensing below).  See Immunisation Handbook.

      From 2018, 9-valent HPV given to all year 7 students (or age equivalent 12-13 years). 9-valent HPV funded 9-25 years inclusive as of Feb 2023. HPV vaccines not recommended during pregnancy, can be given during breastfeeding. Licensed for females age 9–45 years and males 9–26 years. Note licensed to 26 years, recommended to 25 years - discrepancy correct as of Feb 2023.

      Influenza    (seasonal and annual)

      <9 years
      1 or 2 doses*

      9 years and older 1 dose

      IM (dose varies)

      1

       

      Now recommended annually for all people 6 months and older, including pregnant women. In Victoria, funded for children <5 years (from 2018), pregnant women, adults 65 years and older, and age 5 years and older with medical risk factors.

      Dose and formulation vary with age and formulation – 0.5 ml age 6 months and older (Fluarix Tetra, Vaxigrip Tetra, FluQuadri), 0.5 ml 3 years and older (previous and also Influvac Tetra), 0.5 ml 5 years and older (previous and also Afluria Quad). Different formulations funded for adults 65 years and older (Fluad Quad 0.5 ml). *If aged <9 years at the time of first administration – 2 doses minimum 1 month apart. Check Immunisation Handbook and MVEC information .

      Covid

      6 months - 4 years - 2 doses*

      5-11 years - 2 doses* + consider booster as recommended

      12-15 years - 2 doses* + booster as recommended

      16 years and older - 2 doses* + boosters as recommended

      IM (dose varies)

      Recommended 2m,  minimum varies with type 

      3rd primary also recommended 2m if required

      Boosters 3m

      Children 6m-4 years with severe immunocompromise*, disability, complex/multiple health conditions -recommended interval 8-weeks. (Moderna paediatric 6m-5y, 25mcg dose - blue/purple, 2-dose primary course). *3 doses if severe immunocompromise - interval also 8 weeks. 

      Children 5-11 years - 2 doses, recommended interval 8-weeks. Pfizer (registered age 5-11 years) = 1/3 adult dose (orange vial - 10mcg), minimum interval 3-weeks. Moderna (registered age 6-11 years, 50mcg, 1/2 adult dose), minimum interval 4 weeks. *Severely immunocompromised eligible for 3rd primary dose - interval 2-months after 2nd dose. No boosters.

      Children 12-15 years - 2 doses, recommended interval 8-weeks. Pfizer 30mcg dose, minimum interval 3-weeks, Moderna 100mcg dose, minimum interval 4-weeks. *Severely immunocompromised eligible for 3rd primary dose - interval 2-months after 2nd dose. Booster - only if severe immunocompromise, disability, complex/multiple conditions increasing risk severe covid-19.

      Age 16 years and older - 2 doses Pfizer interval 8-weeks, 30mcg dose, minimum 3-weeks, Moderna interval 8-weeks, 100mcg dose, minimum 4-weeks. *Severely immunocompromised eligible for 3rd primary dose - interval 2-months after 2nd dose). Novovax can be used age 18 years and older, interval 3-weeks, can extend to 8-weeks. AstraZeneca is available for age 60 years and older, and adults 18-59 years based on personal preference, interval 12-weeks, minimum 4-weeks. Boosters - mRNA vaccines preferred, given 3-months after primary course. 'Winter boosters' i.e. 2nd booster - available 30y+, recommended for age 50 years and older, and age 16y+ if resident aged care/disability facilities, complex/multiple conditions increasing risk severe illness, or severely immunocompromised, interval - 3-months after initial booster Therefore standard = 2 dose primary + boosters, immunocompromised = 3 dose primary + boosters. Overseas dosing and completion guide

      Feb 2023, ATAGI guidelines for 2023 booster (regardless of prior doses, if 6-months after last covid vaccine or confirmed covid infection and aim for vaccine before June 2023) - recommended for all adults 65 years and older and adults 18-64 years with medical comorbidities or disability, consider all adults 18-64 years, children 5-17 years with medical co-morbidities or disability. Bivalent mRNA vaccines preferred (although all formulations acceptable) - Pfizer original/omicron BA.4/5 or original/omicron BA.1, or Moderna original/omicron BA.1.

      Rotavirus
      (LAV)
      <6 months,
      2 doses*

      Oral       1.5 ml

      1 Not usually given as catch-up due to strict age restrictions. Rotarix (1.5 ml): 2 doses at 2 and 4 months of age, 1st dose must be given <15 weeks, 2nd dose must be given <25 weeks.  
      Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)
      (LAV)
      <16 years*,
      1 dose  
      ID, 
      varies**
        – Recommended in:1,2 
      Children <5 years in households with immigrants/unscreened visitors from high prevalence countries.
      Children <5 years travelling to high prevalence countries (i.e.>40 cases per 100,000 population per year) for >3 months (also consider cumulative travel). 
      Neonates with family history of leprosy. 
      *Consider in:
      Exposure to active pulmonary TB where preventive therapy not possible/after completion preventive therapy. 
      Travel to high prevalence area >6 weeks if aged <5 years, >3 months aged >5 years.[2]
      Only give if no record/scar, no immunosuppression, no evidence TB infection (requires TST if previous travel, usually no TST if age <2 years and no travel) and no other contraindications. **Dose is 0.05ml age <12 months, 0.1ml 12 months and older. Only available through RCH and Monash currently.

      IM = intramuscular, SC = subcutaneous, ID = intradermal, LAV = Live Attenuated Vaccine (consider pregnancy, and dosing interactions), MSM = men who have sex with men

      Policy and legislation

      Federal

      • In 2016, the 'No Jab, No Pay' legislation was introduced (see background, Department of Human Services (DHS) informationDepartment of Social Services (DSS) summary)
      • Children and young people (<20 years) need to be up to date for their immunisations OR be on a vaccine catch-up schedule OR have a medical exemption to be eligible to receive certain family assistance payments from Centrelink ( Childcare Subsidyand the full amount of Family Tax Benefit Part A – FTB-A) – if children do not meet the immunisation requirements FTA-B payments reduce by $28.28 per fortnight, per child
      • Centrelink uses the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to establish whether vaccinations are up to date
      • The vaccines that are linked to family assistance payments are those given in early childhood: DTPa/dTpa, IPV, MMR and hepatitis B, and for younger children, pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccinations. See due-overdue rules.
      • When the first dose of vaccines covering all the overdue antigens is entered into AIR, the child is recorded as being up to date until the next set of vaccines becomes overdue (usually 3 months later).  Medical exemptions can be completed by relevant health professionals (i.e. for immunity) and are factored into establishing whether vaccinations are up to date. 

      All children and young people (<20 years of age) need an assessment of their immunisation status to: clarify their immunisation history, enter information into AIR if it has not been recorded, and provide catch-up vaccines if needed. AIR information needs to be up to date or children/families may lose Centrelink payments. 

      • The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) became a 'whole of life' register from 2016. Previously, AIR was the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) and could only be used for children <7 years, meaning any child who arrived aged 7 years and older (i.e. arriving from 2004 onwards) or, who received early childhood catch-up vaccines past the age of 7 years, did not have their immunisation information entered into AIR. AIR has expanded rapidly with use for Covid vaccination at all ages.
      • Specialist and other health providers can register to enter information onto AIR (GP and paediatrician registration is automatic) - access is now through HPOS.
      • Catch-up vaccinations are funded including for children <10 years, age 10–19 years and all refugee and humanitarian entrants 20 years and older

      State

      • In Victoria, the 'No Jab, No Play' legislation (2015) came into effect in 2016 – children need to be up to date with vaccinations or have commenced an immunisation catch-up plan to enrol in childcare or kindergarten in Victoria – see resources
      • Children who arrived in Australia as a refugee or asylum seeker are eligible for a 16-week grace period to start catch-up vaccinations after they enrol in childcare. See resources for early childhood services 
      • Only AIR records are accepted as evidence of immunisation for childcare/kindergarten enrolment (either individual or health provider view), which may be difficult for people without Medicare, recent arrivals, or children waiting for overseas records to be entered onto AIR

      General principles

      No-one arriving as a refugee or asylum seeker will be vaccinated and up to date according to the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule, due to differences in country of origin schedules and/or issues with health service access.

      All refugees and asylum seekers will require catch-up vaccinations – they should be vaccinated so they are up to date according to the Australian immunisation schedule; equivalent to an Australian-born person of the same age.

      1. Assess any existing immunisation records

      • Written records are considered reliable evidence of vaccination status if available; however most refugees do not have documentation of immunisation. There is often a clear verbal history of vaccinations, although there is debate on the validity of parental/self recall of vaccination status.3,4 In the absence of written documentation, full age appropriate catch-up immunisation is recommended
      • If written records are available in other languages – the Department of Home Affairs provides a free document translating service for new migrants settling in Australia. Within the first two years of arriving in Australia, eligible individuals can have up to 10 key personal documents (including vaccination records) translated into English, free of charge
      • Offshore Humanitarian Programme arrivals may have had vaccines as part of the Departure Health Check (DHC). The DHC occurs in the week prior to travel, this assessment is voluntary, and uptake is incomplete. The DHC includes MMR in people aged 9 months – 54 years, and Yellow Fever (YF) and Polio Vaccine (OPV or IPV) depending on area. Check available information (e.g. on Department of Home Affairs HAPlite system, any patient-held records, case worker, refugee nurse). 
      • From 2016, additional vaccinations were implemented for the Syrian and Iraqi cohorts, with MMR, polio vaccination and DTP/dT vaccination – in the form of pentavalent vaccine in children <10 years – check available paperwork and the HAPlite system as above, and ensure these vaccinations are entered onto AIR
      • Asylum seekers who arrived by boat should have had vaccinations in Australian immigration detention, although in practice, immunisation provision was variable. Check their health summary or health discharge assessment (they should have a copy) or request IHMS information. They may also have a photocopy of a vaccination card – there are often differences between the health summary and card. Asylum seeker children aged <7 years should have had their immunisation information entered into AIR – although this frequently has not occurred (either in detention or subsequently in the community), and alternative/changes in name spelling (if there is no Medicare) can make this information difficult to find
      • Clarify any vaccinations given in Australia and check AIR (all ages)

      2. Consider relevant clinical information

      • Hepatitis B serology is part of post arrival screening, if there is documented immunity (sAb >10 mIU/mL) hepatitis B vaccination is not required and a medical exemption form should be completed (by GP, paediatrician, clinical immunologist, infectious disease physicians, public health physician) - or information entered directly into AIR
      • Rubella serology is recommended in women of childbearing age
      • Varicella serology should be checked in those aged 14 years and older with no clinical history of varicella infection 
      • Routine serologic testing for immunity to other vaccine-preventable diseases is not recommended in refugee/asylum seeker health screening
      • Check for presence of a BCG scar (deltoid, forearm, scapula, both sides and may be elsewhere). BCG vaccination has been found to leave a scar in between 75%[3] – 99%[6] of recipients
      • Assess for any contraindications to vaccination, completing the pre-vaccination screening checklist
      • Consider recent vaccines (including offshore vaccines) and/or tuberculin skin tests (TST). The DHC includes LAV. There should be a minimum 4-week interval between vaccine dosing, and TST should be administered before, or 4 weeks after LAV
      • Consider pregnancy in all females of child bearing age, including in adolescents. In general LAV (MMR, MMR-V, VV) and HPV are contraindicated during pregnancy, and should not be given for 28 days prior to pregnancy
      • Consider medical conditions requiring extra vaccine protection including asplenia, HIV infection/other immunosuppression, severe or chronic medical conditions, hepatitis B or hepatitis C (where hepatitis A vaccination is recommended in the absence of immunity)
      • Consider any other/occupational risk factors requiring extra vaccine protection(e.g. healthcare workers (hepatitis B vaccine, influenza vaccine), occupational animal exposure/abattoir workers (Q fever), men who have sex with men (meningococcal ACWY, HPV, hepatitis B, hepatitis A), people who have injected drugs (hepatitis A, hepatitis B) – use the HALO approach (health, age, lifestyle, occupation)

      3. Develop a catch-up vaccination plan

      • Determine which vaccines have already been given and if there is immunity to hepatitis B or varicella. Complete, but do not restart, immunisation schedules if there is written documentation of previous vaccine doses. Clarify if there is a plan in place; in which case opportunistic immunisation is not appropriate unless specifically requested by the primary care provider
      • Aim for minimum number of visits, and minimum dosing schedules. In general, catch-up immunisation can be provided over three visits across 4 months in adolescents and adults (i.e. by giving the 3rd doses of dTpa-containing and hepatitis B vaccine at the same visit). Children 4-9 years of age will require a 4th dose 6 months after the primary course. Younger children will also require 4 or 5 doses
      • Give combination vaccines where possible (to reduce the number of needles). Consider formulations, age restrictions and schedule changes
      • See Table 1 for dose number, interval and practice points. The  SA Immunisation Calculator can be used to for catch-up schedules for children <10 years, and the Victorian DHHS provides a catch-up tool for 10–19 years
      • Be opportunistic. For most vaccines, there are no adverse events associated with additional doses in immune individuals, and the benefits of immunisation are substantial. Extra doses of DT (or dT) containing vaccines and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines may be associated with increased local reactions[1]

      4. Document vaccinations that have been given (in Australia and overseas)

      • Provide a written record and a clear plan for ongoing immunisation. It is useful to document which dose of vaccine has been given (e.g. MMR dose 1 of 2)
      • Vaccination information for all ages should be entered into the AIR which can also be checked for previous vaccines. This includes and previous vaccines (overseas or in Australia, including those given in detention) and any current vaccines - either through AIR online or by completing an Immunisation History Form
      • Document medical exemptions where relevant (i.e. medical contraindication or natural immunity) – either through AIR, or using a medical exemption form

      5. Ensure catch-up vaccination is completed

      • Make sure children/families/adults understand they will need 3–4 visits for vaccination
      • Where possible, immunise family members simultaneously to reduce the total number of visits
      • Provide information about immunisation and family assistance payments. For patients with low-English proficiency, translated immunisation information is available on the Health Translations Directory
      • Use a recall and reminder system to support completion of immunisation schedules (e.g. NSW refugee health service appointment reminder tool)

      For families outside the initial stage of settlement – remind them to plan early for travel immunisations. Many families subsequently travel and may be at increased risk when visiting friends/relatives in their area of origin. 

      Additional notes

      The current National Immunisation Program Schedule in Victoria for secondary students includes:

      • Year 7 or equivalent: dTpa (Boostrix), HPV (now reduced to single dose as of Feb 2023). Hepatitis B year 7 catch-up program ceased  2013, varicella year 7 catch-up ceased in 2017
      • Year 10: Meningococcal ACWY – also funded for 15–19 year olds
      • Medical risk factors – Influenza

      Vaccines for refugees/asylum seekers are supplied though several government immunisation initiatives:

      • Catch-up immunisation arrangements in relation to 'No Jab, No Pay' as above
      • BCG vaccine is provided (to authorised providers) for use in children <5 years travelling to high incidence areas. See information on BCG clinics
      • Hepatitis B vaccine is provided free for 'at-risk' groups in Victoria, including household contacts – also see Better Health information

      The following list has been compiled based on vaccine programs in Victoria, and calculates the birth year for Victorian-born people accessing the relevant recent programs - to help calculate vaccinating refugee/asylum seeker arrivals equivalent to an Australian-born person of the same age.

      • Hepatitis B vaccine – born 1989 onwards (2000 infant immunisation, 2001 catch-up year 7 program, ceased 2013 when birth cohort reached year 7)
      • Human Papilloma Virus vaccine – females born 1981 onwards and males born 1999 onwards (2007 - for females aged 13-26 years, catch-up for females 14-26y ended 2009; 2013 immunisation for males in year 9 or aged 14–15 years, catch-up ending 2015) 
      • Meningococcal C vaccine – born 1987 onwards (2003 immunisation at 12 months, 2003–06 immunisation provided for age 1–19 years)
      • Varicella vaccine – born 1993 onwards (2005 immunisation at 18 months and catch-up year 7 program until end 2017). 

      Pharmacies in Victoria can now provide vaccinations this program has steadily expanded since April 2020 and was used for covid vaccination – see guidelines.  Vaccines can now be provided from age 5 years, and include: 

      • 5 years and older - Influenza vaccine, Covid vaccine, JE, MPX (with training), 
      • 12 years and older – dTpa (with provisions), HPV
      • 15 years and older – MMR, dTpa, and MenACWY
      • 50 years and older - pneumococcal, zoster, 

      Resources

      References

      Immigrant health clinic resources. Initial: Georgie Paxton and Jim Buttery. Revisions: Georgie Paxton. Updated Feb 2023. Contact: georgia.paxton@rch.org.au