Summary
Read the full fact sheet- Immunisations in Victoria are provided by: local councils, GPs and specially qualified nurses in medical clinics and community health services, some maternal and child health nurses, travel medicine clinics, community pharmacists and hospitals.
- What immunisations you need and who delivers them depends on your health, age, lifestyle and occupation.
On this page
- Who provides immunisations in Victoria?
- Immunisations provided by local councils
- Immunisations provided by GPs and medical clinics
- Immunisations provided in hospital
- Immunisations provided by travel medicine clinics
- Immunisations provided by pharmacists
- Other services providing immunisations
- Where to get help
Who provides immunisations in Victoria?
COVID-19 vaccines: For information about COVID-19 vaccines, see COVID-19 vaccination.
People need immunisation in lots of different situations. Which vaccines you need depends on your health, age, lifestyle and occupation (HALO). The Immunisation for Life infographic can help you determine which immunisations you may need.
Who delivers the vaccines can also vary depending on why you need the vaccination.
Immunisations provided by local councils
In Victoria, local councils play a large role in providing immunisation services. They:
- provide free immunisations at community immunisation clinics to eligible persons under the National Immunisation Program (these are popular with families of infants, children and adolescents)
- provide free immunisations to adolescents at all secondary schools in the local council area
- provide immunisation services for recently arrived refugees.
Immunisations provided by GPs and medical clinics
GPs or nurses employed at medical clinics deliver a range of immunisation services, including giving immunisations that are provided on the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
Although some immunisations are provided for free to eligible persons under the National Immunisation Program, a service fee may apply. If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can also purchase the vaccine and have it given to you by your GP or medical clinic nurse.
Immunisations provided in hospital
Public hospitals in Victoria provide free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program on an as-needs basis if they are recommended or required for a person with a medical condition. Maternity services also provide immunisations for pregnant women and after pregnancy. Immunisations can also be provided by private hospitals.
The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Health and Western Health provide hospital based immunisation services for their in-patients and out-patients in the hospital. These services also provide specialist immunisation advice for:
- families concerned about the safety of a vaccine for their child
- people who have experienced a vaccine adverse event following immunisation.
Immunisations provided by travel medicine clinics
Travel medicine is a specialist area that can require specially trained doctors to determine what vaccines are needed, and to provide them. Some GPs can also provide travel vaccinations. Some vaccinations (such as those for yellow fever) are only provided by specific, accredited clinics.
Immunisations provided by pharmacists
Some specially qualified pharmacist immunisers can provide vaccines for:
- influenza (flu) – 5 years of age and over
- pertussis (whooping cough) containing vaccines – 12 years of age and over
- human papillomavirus (HPV) – 12 years of age and over
- measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – 15 years of age and over
- meningococcal ACWY – 15 years of age and over
- pneumococcal – 50 years of age and over
- herpes zoster / varicella zoster – 50 years of age and over.
These vaccines are free to eligible people under the National Immunisation Program, however a service fee may apply.
If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can also purchase some vaccines and have them given to you by the Pharmacist Immuniser.
Other services providing immunisations
Some other services and health professionals that can provide immunisations include:
- community health services
- aboriginal health services
- some maternal and child health centres
- some obstetric services for pregnant women
- immigration health services.
Where to get help
- Your GP (doctor)
- Your local council immunisation service – visit Know your council
- Immunisation Unit, Department of Health, Victorian Government Email: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
- National Immunisation Information Line Tel. 1800 671 811
- Maternal and Child Health Line Tel. 13 22 29 (24 hours, 7 days)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria
- Community Pharmacist Pilot – receive some treatments at a local pharmacy without needing to see a doctor for a prescription in Victoria
- National Immunisation Program Schedule, Department of Health, Australian Government.
- Immunisation schedule Victoria and vaccine eligibility criteria, Department of Health, Victorian Government.
This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:
