Department of Health

National Immunisation Program (NIP) and state-funded vaccines for adults

Community immunisation information

The information on this page is aimed at immunisation providers. If you're looking for immunisation information for yourself, your family or someone you're caring for, visit Better Health Channel.

Immunisation information on Better Health Channel

Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine for the following adults where clinically indicated:

  • people with asplenia or splenic dysfunction.

More information

Hepatitis B vaccine

The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free Hepatitis B vaccines for the following adults:

  • catch up immunisation for people under 20 years of age and
  • refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age.

The Victorian Government-funded programExternal Link provides free Hepatitis B vaccine for people at risk of hepatitis B infection:

  • all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; non-immune, no restrictions
  • household contacts and sexual partners of people living with hepatitis B
  • people who inject drugs or are on opioid substitution therapy
  • people living with Hepatitis C
  • men who have sex with men
  • people living with HIV
  • people no longer in a custodial setting who commenced but did not complete a free vaccine course while in custody
  • people born in priority hepatitis B endemic countries and arrived in Australia in the last 10 years. (Priority countries include China, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Thailand, South Korea, Myanmar (Burma) Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Cambodia).

More information

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free HPV Gardasil®9 vaccine for:

  • adolescents 12-13 years of age through the secondary school immunisation program
  • catch-up immunisation for adults up to 25 years of age

More information

Influenza vaccine

Influenza vaccine is recommended annually for all adults who wish to protect themselves from influenza. The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free influenza vaccine for the following adults:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • adults with medical risk conditions
  • pregnant women
  • people aged 65 years and older.

More information

Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine

Two doses of measles containing vaccine given at least 28 days apart are required for optimal protection against measles.

The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free measles vaccine for the following adults:

The Victorian Government-funded program provides free measles vaccine for the following adults:

  • all people born during or after 1966 without documented evidence of receiving 2 doses of valid MMR vaccine or without serological evidence of immunity
  • includes people not eligible for Medicare.

Notes

  • Many Victorians born between 1966 and 1992 may not have received two doses of vaccine, which are required to provide immunity. Check records and offer immunisation at the earliest opportunity.
  • MMR vaccine should be administered to women planning pregnancy or post-partum with low or negative rubella antibody levels.
  • Ensure immunisation encounters are reported to the Australian Immunisation Register.

More information

Meningococcal vaccine

4-in-1 meningococcal vaccines are available to protect against A, C, W and Y strains of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal B vaccine is available to protect against the meningococcal B strain.

The National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link provides free meningococcal ACWY vaccine for children and for the following adults:

  • Catch up immunisation for people under 20 years of age.
  • People with asplenia or splenic dysfunction, and those with complement deficiency or receiving complement inhibitor treatment.

The National Immunisation Program scheduleExternal Link provides free meningococcal B vaccine for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (<2years of age), and children and adults with at-risk conditions:

  • asplenia or splenic dysfunction, and those with complement deficiency or receiving complement inhibitor treatment.

More information

Pertussis vaccine

Pertussis-containing vaccines are available through the National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link for the pregnant woman in every pregnancy.

More information

Refer to:

Pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccine is provided free on the National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link (NIP) for:

More information

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is provided free on the National Immunisation ProgramExternal Link (NIP) for:

  • for pregnant women ideally between 28-36 weeks of pregnancy
  • all year-round program

More information

Zoster (Shingles) vaccine

Shingrix ® (shingles vaccine) is provided free on the National Immunisation Program (NIP)External Link for:

  • people 65 years of age and older
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years of age or older
  • people 18 years of age and older who are considered at increased risk of herpes zoster due to an underlying condition and/or immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive treatments.

More information

The Australian Immunisation Handbook (online)

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Reviewed 05 December 2025

Health.vic

Contact details

Opening hours:  9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Immunisation Program Department of Health

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