Child and baby immunisations

The NSW Immunisation Schedule recommends children are vaccinated at:

• birth
• 6 weeks
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 4 years

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.

You can:

• view the NSW Immunisation Schedule
• download a print friendly version.

Wanting to delay vaccination when your little one is feeling off colour is a normal response. But the truth is, even if they have a runny nose or slight cold they can still receive their shots.

Free flu shots for children aged 6 months to under 5 years

All children aged 6 months to less than 5 years are also recommended to have their free annual influenza vaccination, which is available from April every year.

Adolescent immunisations

NSW Health works with secondary schools to offer adolescents the vaccines recommended on the NSW Immunisation Schedule under the NSW School Vaccination Program.

Adult immunisations

Adult immunisation is critical to preventing transmission of serious preventable diseases. Just because you were immunised as a child does not mean you are protected as an adult.

All adults play an important role in spreading the word about vaccinating on time. Each person who is vaccinated on time makes the community stronger as a whole. It’s important that the whole family is up to date with their vaccinations.

Find out more about adult immunisation

Immunisations for pregnant women

It’s important that all pregnant women are up to date with their vaccinations to protect themselves and their babies in the first weeks of life.

• Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination is recommended and free for pregnant women in their third trimester. Vaccination will protect their baby until they develop their own immunity to whooping cough, following vaccination at 6 weeks of age. The whooping cough vaccine is usually given to pregnant women at 28 weeks but can be given any time between 20-32 weeks of each pregnancy.
• Influenza vaccination is recommended and free for pregnant women during any stage of pregnancy to protect themselves and their baby in the womb, and in the first few months of life.

Immunisation status

If you are unsure of your or your child's immunisation status, speak to your GP or immunisation provider. Timely vaccination is the best way to keep yourself and the community protected from serious preventable diseases. So book ahead, make an appointment with your doctor or nurse.