Immunisation
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule, catch-up vaccination, contraindications and vaccine safety.
High-yield points
Birth: hepatitis B. At 2, 4 and 6 months: combination DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; rotavirus at 2 and 4 months.
Rotavirus vaccine has strict upper age limits for each dose; missed doses cannot be caught up beyond them.
12 months: MMR, meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal. 18 months: MMRV, DTPa and Hib. 4 years: DTPa-IPV.
School program: HPV (single dose) and dTpa in Year 7, meningococcal ACWY in Year 10.
Annual influenza vaccine is funded for children 6 months to under 5 years.
Live vaccines (MMR, varicella, rotavirus) are contraindicated in significant immunosuppression and pregnancy.
All vaccines given are recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Catch-up schedules for migrant children are calculated with the Australian Immunisation Handbook or the National Immunisation Catch-up Calculator.
India vs Australia
Where the answer the AMC marks correct differs from what’s usually taught in Indian MBBS.
| Aspect | India (MBBS)What you learn in MBBS | Australia (AMC)What the exam marks as correct |
|---|---|---|
| BCG | Routine at birth. | Not routine. Only for specific high-risk groups, e.g. some First Nations newborns and children travelling to high-TB countries. |
| Schedule | UIP: OPV plus fIPV, pentavalent, rotavirus, PCV, MR at 9 and 16-24 months, JE in endemic areas. | NIP: hexavalent (includes IPV), MMR at 12 months and MMRV at 18 months, meningococcal ACWY at 12 months. Check the Immunisation Handbook. |
| Enforcement | Voluntary, with outreach. | 'No Jab, No Pay' family payments and 'No Jab, No Play' childcare rules in several states. Recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register. |
| First Nations children | Not applicable. | Some extra funded vaccines, e.g. meningococcal B and extra pneumococcal doses; some vary by state. |
BCG
India (MBBS)
Routine at birth.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Not routine. Only for specific high-risk groups, e.g. some First Nations newborns and children travelling to high-TB countries.
Schedule
India (MBBS)
UIP: OPV plus fIPV, pentavalent, rotavirus, PCV, MR at 9 and 16-24 months, JE in endemic areas.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
NIP: hexavalent (includes IPV), MMR at 12 months and MMRV at 18 months, meningococcal ACWY at 12 months. Check the Immunisation Handbook.
Enforcement
India (MBBS)
Voluntary, with outreach.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
'No Jab, No Pay' family payments and 'No Jab, No Play' childcare rules in several states. Recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register.
First Nations children
India (MBBS)
Not applicable.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Some extra funded vaccines, e.g. meningococcal B and extra pneumococcal doses; some vary by state.
The Australian context
BCG is not part of the routine Australian schedule (unlike India); it is reserved for specific high-risk groups such as some Aboriginal newborns and children travelling to high-TB countries. Families receive government payments and childcare access only if children are up to date ('No Jab, No Pay'), and several states have 'No Jab, No Play' rules. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children receive some extra funded vaccines (e.g. meningococcal B).