Keeping vaccinations up to date

Getting vaccinated

In your baby's first year, the NSW Immunisation Schedule recommends a range of vaccinations to protect your child from serious preventable diseases at:

• birth
• 6 weeks
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 months.

You can get vaccinations at:

• your local doctor
• Aboriginal Medical Services
• some local councils and community health centres.

Learn more about childhood vaccination at NSW Health.

If your child is behind on their vaccinations

Your child will be on the Australian Immunisation Register if they’re enrolled in Medicare. You can request an immunisation history statement if you're not sure if their vaccinations are up to date.

If your child is not up to date on their vaccinations, talk to your doctor about developing a catch-up schedule so they can be protected as soon as possible.

Family assistance payments

While your child is behind on their vaccinations, the following family assistance payments may be affected:

• full rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A
• Child Care Subsidy, and
• Additional Child Care Subsidy.

Learn more about vaccination requirements if you get a family assistance payment at Services Australia.

Early childhood education and care

Your child can only be enrolled in an early childhood education and care service if you provide approved documentation that shows they:

• are up to date with their vaccinations
• have a medical reason not to be up to date
• are on a recognised catch-up schedule.

Approved documentation to prove your child's immunisation includes a current:

• immunisation history statement that shows your child is up to date or has a medical reason for not being fully up to date
• immunisation history form that shows your child is on a recognised catch-up schedule.

Both of these documents are from the Australian Immunisation Register.

Find out more about vaccination requirements and early childhood education and care at NSW Health.