Children's vaccinations from age 5 in Sunshine
Pharmacist immunisers in Victoria are scoped to vaccinate children aged 5 and over under the Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program.
For children under 5, we're honest about what's due and where to go. For age 5+ we take over catch-ups, missed school doses, annual flu, and ongoing vaccinations — no GP referral needed for anything in scope.
Babies and children 0–4: honestly referred
Under-5 vaccinations are delivered by your GP, the Brimbank City Council immunisation service, or a maternal and child health nurse — not by pharmacist immunisers. Here is the National Immunisation Program schedule for under-5s so you know what's due, and who actually delivers it:
| Age | Vaccines (NIP) |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B |
| 6 weeks / 2 months | DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib, pneumococcal, rotavirus |
| 4 months | DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib, pneumococcal, rotavirus |
| 6 months | DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib, COVID-19 (eligible groups) |
| 12 months | MMR, meningococcal ACWY, pneumococcal |
| 18 months | MMRV (chickenpox), Hib, DTPa |
| 4 years | DTPa-IPV (school entry) |
No Jab, No Play requires a current AIR Immunisation History Statement for any ECEC enrolment (long day care, kinder, family day care, OSHC for ECEC-age children). That's a child requirement, not an educator one. Download the statement from myGov or the Medicare Express Plus app — we can walk you through it in person.
From age 5 we can take over catch-ups and ongoing vaccinations here at the pharmacy — no GP referral, walk in seven days a week.
What we deliver, in scope, on the day
No GP referral needed for anything in this list. Walk in any day during opening hours, or book a guaranteed time online.
Annual influenza from age 5
Free under NIP for at-risk children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; private for everyone else from age 5. Best in autumn before flu season peaks.
School-program catch-up
HPV (Year 7, single dose), dTpa (Year 7), meningococcal ACWY (Year 10). NIP-funded for catch-up up to age 19 for most; up to age 25 for HPV.
NIP routine catch-up
For children missing routine doses (MMR, DTPa, varicella, hep B): we review the AIR statement, identify gaps, and start a catch-up schedule.
Routine adult-style vaccines from age 5
Where age-appropriate (e.g. hepatitis A for travel, meningococcal B privately), within Handbook recommendations.
School-age catch-up — including newly arrived families
For children aged 5 and over, we can deliver any catch-up dose listed in the Australian Immunisation Handbook that's within pharmacist scope. We review the AIR record to find gaps, and if you have overseas immunisation records we can reconcile those too.
For families newly arrived in Australia, this is particularly important for school and ECEC enrolment — No Jab No Play requires AIR documentation. We can administer the missing doses on the day for age 5+, submit them to the AIR within 24 hours, and (for previously administered overseas doses) verify and upload them via our Overseas Vaccinations & AIR upload service ($25 service fee, separate to the vaccine appointment).
For families speaking Vietnamese, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Greek, Macedonian, Albanian, Bosnian, Somali, Bengali or Filipino, our immuniser team can usually speak in your preferred language — please ask at the counter. For other languages, we can connect through TIS National (131 450) at no cost.
What to bring + what happens
Bring
- AIR Immunisation History Statement (download from myGov)
- Any paper records (yellow card, overseas record, school doc)
- Photo ID for the parent or guardian attending
- Medicare card (helpful but not required)
What happens
- Guardian consent + pre-vaccination screening
- The vaccine(s), into the upper arm
- Mandatory 15-minute observation in our seated area
- Dose recorded to the AIR within 24 hours
- School records and Medicare records update automatically
Ready to book your child's appointment?
Children aged 5 and over. Walk in or reserve a time online.
Scope boundary — what we don't do
Trust is built by being clear about what we're NOT scoped for. This list will not surprise you on the day.
- ·Vaccinations for children under 5 years old — these are delivered by your GP, the Brimbank City Council immunisation service, or a maternal and child health nurse.
- ·Vaccinations for pregnant patients — see our dedicated pregnancy page instead.
- ·Children with conditions excluded from pharmacist-administered vaccination per the Australian Immunisation Handbook (e.g. severe immunocompromise) — referred to your GP or paediatrician.
- ·Vaccines outside the pharmacist scope of practice (e.g. BCG) — referred elsewhere.
FAQs about children's vaccinations
My child is 4 — can you vaccinate them?
No. Pharmacist immunisers in Victoria are scoped from age 5 and over under the Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program. For your 4-year-old, see your GP or contact the Brimbank City Council immunisation service. We're happy to help you get the AIR Immunisation History Statement and explain exactly what's due.
My child missed a school vaccination day — what do I do?
For children aged 5+: walk in with the AIR Immunisation History Statement and any record you have. We can administer the catch-up dose on the day (NIP-funded for eligible age groups). The dose is reported to the AIR within 24 hours so the school sees it. Common school catch-ups include HPV (Year 7), dTpa (Year 7) and meningococcal ACWY (Year 10).
We just moved to Australia — what do we need?
If your child is 5 or over, bring whatever overseas immunisation record you have. We can review against the Australian schedule, identify gaps, and start a catch-up plan. Doses we administer here are submitted to the AIR. For verified upload of previously-administered overseas doses, see our Overseas Vaccinations and AIR Upload page (separate $25 service).
Do you do the free MMR for older kids?
Yes — for adults aged 20–59 the Victorian state-funded MMR catch-up is free without two documented doses. For children under 20, MMR catch-up is free under the NIP. Bring your child's AIR record (or whatever immunisation history you have) to identify what's needed.
Why don't you vaccinate children under 5?
It's a scope-of-practice rule under the Victorian Pharmacist-Administered Vaccination Program. Pharmacist immunisers can vaccinate from age 5 in line with our credentialled training. For under-5 vaccinations the right providers are your GP, the Brimbank City Council immunisation service, or a maternal and child health nurse.
Does my child need to be enrolled at a particular childcare for No Jab No Play?
No Jab No Play applies to enrolment at any early childhood education and care (ECEC) service in Victoria — long day care, kinder, family day care, occasional care. The accepted proof is the AIR Immunisation History Statement showing the child is up to date for their age, or has an approved exemption, or is on an active catch-up schedule. It does not apply to primary or secondary school.
My teenager refuses to come in. What can I do?
We can administer NIP-funded vaccines to adolescents aged 14+ who consent for themselves under the Gillick competence framework (where the immuniser assesses sufficient understanding). For under-14s, a parent or guardian must attend and consent. Talk to us — sometimes a different time of day or a one-on-one consultation works better.
Can my child get the flu shot here from age 5?
Yes. Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. For children aged 5 and over we administer it here; for under 5s see your GP, council immunisation service or a maternal and child health nurse — under-5 flu vaccines are free under the NIP.
Sources and further reading
- Australian Immunisation Handbook
- National Immunisation Program schedule
- Victorian Department of Health — No Jab, No Play
- Brimbank City Council — Immunisation services
- Better Health Channel — Childhood vaccinations
- NCIRS — National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
General information only — not personal medical advice. Vaccines are described by disease or category in line with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code. Your AHPRA-registered immuniser confirms what applies at the pre-vaccination screening.
Book your child's appointment
Children aged 5 and over. Bring the AIR statement and any past records — we'll work out exactly what's due in one visit where we can.