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Immunisation

Immunisation is the cornerstone of preventive medicine. Basic diseases (diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella) should be covered. Children should be immunised according to the NHMRC recommendation.

All adults should receive an adult diphtheria and tetanus (ADT) booster each 10 years.

All women of child-bearing years should have their rubella antibody status reviewed.

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Table I1 Current recommended schedule (www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation) (2020)

Age

Disease

Birth

Hepatitis B

2 months

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcus, Rotavirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)*

4 months

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) Polio, Pneumococcus, Hib, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus*

6 months

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) Polio, Pneumococcus (ATSIP), Hib, Hepatitis B (or at 12 mths)*

12 months

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Hib, Meningococcal ACWY, meningococcal B, Pneumococcus (ATSIP), Hepatitis B (or at 6 mths), Hepatitis A (ATSIP)

18 months

DTP, Varicella, Pneumococcus (ATSIP), MMR, Hepatitis A (ATSIP), Hib

4 years

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) Polio, MMR (if not given at 18 months), Pneumococcus (ATSIP), Hepatitis A (ATSIP)

School programs (12–16 years)

Human papilloma virus, DTP (adult), Hepatitis B (if no first course), Meningococcal ACWY

70–79 years

Herpes zoster

ATSIP = Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

*Meningococcal B for ATSIP

Other recommendations

  • Influenza: annually for those with chronic debilitating diseases, persons >65, children aged 6 mths to 5 yrs, health care personnel and the immunosuppressed

  • Hepatitis B: for those at risk through work or lifestyle

  • Q fever: those at risk, esp. abattoir workers

  • Tuberculosis (BCG vaccine): infants at risk (e.g. Indochinese babies exposed to TB, health workers who are Mantoux negative)

  • Pneumococcal vaccine: splenectomised persons >2 yrs, Hodgkin lymphoma, all people from 65 years

  • Meningococcal b vaccine: children (especially pre-school aged) and adolescents

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