Australian Prescriber An independent Review Logo
ISSUE 3 JUNE
Article

The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule 2000-2002

The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule shown here is that recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). In drawing up its recommendations the NHMRC has sought to reduce the number of injections given at each immunisation session through the use of new combination vaccines and to limit, as far as possible, the number of vaccine products that a practitioner would need to have available. For the immunisations at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months, two options for the use of combination vaccines which meet these criteria are recommended.

The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule 2000-2002
For children born on or after 1 May 2000

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory follow Path 1.

Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania follow Path 2.

Immunisation Schedule
Age Vaccine

table

Notes

  1. Hepatitis B vaccine should be given to all infants at birth and should not be delayed beyond 7 days after birth. Infants whose mothers are hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg+ve) should also be given hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) within 12 hours of birth.
  2. When necessary the two paths may be interchanged with regard to their hepatitis B and Hib components. For example, when a child moves interstate, they may change from one path to the other.
  3. Wherever possible the same brand of DTPa should be used at 2, 4 and 6 months.
  4. Adolescent hepatitis B vaccination is not necessary for those children who have previously received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
  5. Td should be given at 50 years of age unless a Td booster dose has been documented in the previous 10 years.
Vaccines used in the Schedule
Disease Vaccine
Hepatitis B hepB
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis DTPa

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B

 DTPa-hepB
Haemophilus Influenzae type B Hib (PRP-OMP)
Haemophilus Influenzae type B, Hepatitis B Hib (PRP-OMP)-hepB
Poliomyelitis OPV
Measles, Mumps, Rubella MMR
Diphtheria, Tetanus Td
Pneumococcal disease Pneumococcal vaccine
Influenza Influenza vaccine

Transition from the old to the new schedule

All babies born on or after 1 May 2000 should commence the new Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule. Because of logistics, funding and vaccine interchangeability issues, all children born before this date should commence or continue with the previous schedule.