The aim of immunisation programs is to reduce the impact of vaccine preventable disease through achieving high vaccine coverage rates in the community.
The vaccines offered through these immunisation programs are free for eligible people however, some immunisation providers may charge a service or consultation fee. See the Immunisation services page for a list of providers.
For information on why we immunise and what you need to know before you are immunised see the Australian Government's About Immunisation page.
The National Immunisation Program is supported by the Australian Government and provides free vaccines for children, adolescents and adults who hold or are eligible for a Medicare card.
All individuals aged 10 to 19 years (and less than 26 years for the HPV vaccine) are eligible for funded vaccines under the National Immunisation Program catch-up immunisations.
The National Immunisation Program consists of the following:
The Childhood Immunisation Program provides free vaccines to protect against many different diseases for children from birth to four years of age. Additional vaccines are also recommended for Aboriginal children. For further information see Aboriginal immunisation recommendations.
The School Immunisation Program provides recommended vaccines for South Australian students in Years 7 and 10.
There are additional recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for some vaccines due to a higher risk of some vaccine preventable diseases.
Catch-up schedules are required for individuals who have missed or delayed vaccines and may be necessary for childcare and school enrolment and are currently used to determine eligibility for some family assistance payments. A catch-up schedule is planned by health professionals based on age, vaccination history, current recommendations, and risk factors. For further information speak to your immunisation provider.
A state-wide Meningococcal B Immunisation Program commenced on 1 October 2018 and provides free MenB (Bexsero®) vaccines to eligible children and young people who are residents of South Australia and have a Medicare card
The Annual Influenza Program provides free vaccines to specific groups who are considered at greatest risk from complications of the flu (influenza), including all Aboriginal persons from 6 months of age. The state funded influenza program is available to children in South Australia from 6 months to less than 5 years of age.
Under the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for everyone 5 years and older.
The National Shingles Vaccination Program provides free Shingles vaccine to eligible people as part of the National Immunisation Program.
The High Risk Hepatitis B Immunisation Program provides free hepatitis B vaccines to groups who are at an increased risk of developing hepatitis B infection.
The New Arrival Refugee Immunisation (NARI) Program offers specific vaccines to newly arrived refugees as part of the Australian Government Humanitarian Scheme.
All refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years of age or over, are eligible for funded catch-up vaccines under the National Immunisation Program.
The NIPVIP Program allows eligible community pharmacies to offer certain vaccines to people aged 5 years and older. Speak to your pharmacist for more information on what vaccines are available at your pharmacy.
Allows pharmacists to administer certain private vaccines (vaccines a person is not eligible to receive as part of the National Immunisation Program) to people aged 5 years and older. Speak to your pharmacist for more information on what vaccines are available at your pharmacy.
