Your vaccinations are important
Getting vaccinated is a simple and effective way to protect yourself and those around you from serious diseases.
Immunisation is the process of getting the vaccine and becoming immune to the disease after vaccination. According to the World Health Organization, immunisation is one of the best ways to prevent illness and save lives.
Vaccination programs have saved approximately 154 million lives worldwide since 1974, with 95% of these lives saved being children under the age of 5 (The Lancet, 2024)
Some vaccines also help prevent future health issues. For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reduces the risk of some cancers.
Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others too. The National Immunisation Program provides free vaccines against several diseases. Speak to your healthcare provider and find out more about the
National Immunisation Program
When to get vaccinated
Vaccinations help keep you healthy at every stage of your life. The vaccines you need depend on your age, health, lifestyle, and job. Visit the
Australian Government website to learn about when to get vaccinated.
In Australia, certain vaccines are free for eligible groups as part of the National Immunisation Program, including:
The
NSW Immunisation Schedule includes all vaccines that are free in NSW and who is eligible.
How vaccines work
Vaccines, given by injection or oral drops, help your immune system recognise and fight harmful bacteria and viruses. They also prepare your immune system to respond to the infection more effectively and quickly when you encounter the infection in the future.
Getting vaccinated before exposure to dangerous diseases will help prevent severe complications, or even death.
It generally takes between 1 to 3 weeks to be protected after being immunised. Most vaccines provide long-term protection after a few doses. However, some vaccines, like the influenza (flu) vaccine, provide shorter term protection and therefore require a dose each year.
Some vaccines, such as COVID-19 and influenza (flu), may not stop you from catching the disease but can reduce the severity of your symptoms and risk of complications.
For more information on how vaccines protect you and your loved ones, visit:
healthdirect - Immunisation or vaccination - what's the difference?
Herd immunity
When many people in a community become immune to a disease (through previous vaccination or illness), it makes it difficult for the disease to spread. This is called herd immunity.
Herd immunity helps by indirectly protecting vulnerable people in the community. This includes young babies and people with certain medical conditions. That’s why getting vaccinated is not only a good thing for you, but it also protects those around you.
Vaccine safety
In Australia, all vaccines undergo rigorous evaluation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to ensure they are safe and effective for use. Once approved, vaccine safety is continually monitored. This includes direct reporting of side effects or adverse events to the TGA or the
AusVaxSafety system.
Like other medicines, vaccines can cause mild short-lasting side effects. It is very rare for vaccines to cause serious side effects. Speak to your healthcare provider if you are concerned about potential side effects after vaccination.
To learn more about how vaccines are developed, tested and monitored, visit:
I have questions
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How do I access my vaccination history?
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How safe are vaccines?
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What are the side effects of vaccination?
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Not all vaccines are 100% effective – why do I have to have them?
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How do vaccines create immunity?
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Why should I get vaccinated when I can get natural immunity?
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Are the diseases still around anyway?
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Why is the schedule the way it is?
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What happens if I delay or leave out certain vaccines?
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Is it safe to receive more than one vaccine at a time?
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Why do some vaccines last a lifetime while others need multiple doses?
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Are there vaccines I need to pay for myself?
It’s okay to have questions about vaccination and it’s important to feel confident in your decision to vaccinate. Finding reliable, evidence-based answers to your immunisation questions online can be hard, but a great place to start is reading the links on this page and speaking to your healthcare provider.
How do I access my vaccination history?
Speak to your healthcare provider to check if you are up to date with your vaccinations. You can also access your immunisation history through
Medicare or myGov or by calling the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809.
How safe are vaccines?
Vaccines used in Australia are safe and must pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA also monitors the safety of vaccines once they are in use. For more information about vaccine safety, see:
What are the side effects of vaccination?
The most common side effect from vaccination is fever and pain, swelling or redness at the injection site. Most side effects are mild and resolve on their own after a few days. Serious side effects, like anaphylaxis, are extremely rare.
If you are concerned about any side effects after vaccination, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Not all vaccines are 100% effective – why do I have to have them?
The overwhelming evidence is that vaccination is the most effective public health measure to protect the community from vaccine-preventable diseases. While no medicine or vaccine is 100% effective, vaccination offers the best protection for individuals and those around them by preventing disease or severe illness.
How do vaccines create immunity?
A vaccine is given by injection or oral drops to help your immune system develop antibodies to protect you from infections. It also prepares your immune system to respond to the infection more effectively and quickly when you encounter the infection in the future.
Therefore, getting vaccinated before exposure to dangerous diseases will help prevent severe complications, or even death.
Why should I get vaccinated when I can get natural immunity?
You may develop natural immunity from some infections. However, certain infections like whooping cough and measles, can cause serious disease, long-term complications or death. Vaccines protect you from infections without exposing you to the dangers of the disease.
Are the diseases still around anyway?
Some vaccine-preventable diseases, like whooping cough and flu, remain common in Australia. Others, such as measles and diphtheria, are less common here but are still found commonly overseas, including the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Vaccination helps protect against diseases that can be brought into Australia by travellers or caught by Australian residents while travelling or visiting family overseas.
Why is the schedule the way it is?
The immunisation schedule is carefully designed to provide the best protection against serious infections for different age groups when the disease is most common or most serious for them. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) develops the recommendations on when and who to vaccinate in Australia.
What happens if I delay or leave out certain vaccines?
Delaying vaccinations leaves you or your loved ones unprotected from serious diseases. This could harm those who are at higher risk of serious illness such as young babies, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Is it safe to receive more than one vaccine at a time?
Some vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines. For example, at 18 months of age, children are recommended to have 3 different vaccines to protect them against 8 infections. Getting multiple vaccines at the same visit is safe and is no more stressful on the immune system than having a single vaccine. Speak to your healthcare provider to find out which vaccines can be given at the same time.
Why do some vaccines last a lifetime while others need multiple doses?
Some vaccines like those for measles-mumps-rubella and chickenpox provide long-term protection. Other viruses like influenza (flu) change over time. This means that an additional vaccine dose matching the current strains in the community is recommended to help you have the best protection.
Are there vaccines I need to pay for myself?
Vaccines that are not included in national or state-funded programs may be purchased privately if needed. Talk to your healthcare provider about what vaccines can be purchased privately.
More information
Speak to your healthcare provider if you have more questions or visit the following websites
