Australia’s vaccination schedules have changed many times since the 1970s, and even people who consider themselves “fully vaccinated as a kid” are often due for a catch-up by their 30s. The good news is the Australian Immunisation Handbook has a clear catch-up framework, and a 10-minute consult with your immuniser is usually enough to map your gaps.
Step 1: pull your record
Log into myGov and link your Medicare account, or use the Medicare Express Plus app. From there you can download your Immunisation History Statement (free). Print it or save the PDF to your phone for the consult.
Records of doses given before AIR started (in the 1990s for children, 2016 for adults) may not appear. Paper records, the old yellow childhood booklet, or serology (a blood test for measles immunity, for example) can fill the gap.
Step 2: the common adult catch-ups
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), anyone born after 1965 should have two documented doses. Vic has a free catch-up for adults aged 20–59, see our MMR catch-up post.
- Whooping cough (dTpa) booster, recommended every 10 years, every pregnancy, and for anyone who will spend time with newborns.
- Hepatitis B, universally schedule from the 2000s; many adults born before then aren’t immune. A blood test can confirm.
- HPV catch-up, available for people up to 25 (some up to 45 depending on circumstances). Worth asking about.
- Chickenpox (varicella), if you’ve never had chickenpox or two doses of the vaccine, immunity matters into adulthood.
- Pneumococcal. NIP-funded for adults aged 70+ and at-risk groups.
- Shingles. NIP-funded from age 65 (50 for some First Nations and immunocompromised cohorts).
- Annual flu, recommended every year for everyone aged 6 months and over.
Step 3: book a quick consult
You don’t need to know exactly what you need. Walk in with your Immunisation History Statement, and our immuniser will go through it with you and recommend a catch-up plan. Most people leave with one or two doses already given and a clear plan for the rest.
Use the vaccine schedule page for the full NIP picture.
Sources & further reading
General information only. This article is educational and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Your immuniser will confirm eligibility and contraindications on the day.
TGA advertising compliance. Vaccines are referred to by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Specific brands and registered indications are discussed at the consultation.