Department of Health

Vaccination for special-risk groups

Community immunisation information

The information on this page is aimed at immunisation providers. If you're looking for immunisation information for yourself, your family or someone you're caring for, visit Better Health Channel.

Immunisation information on Better Health Channel

Some people are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases due to certain conditions, underlying disease, or other risk factors. Vaccines are funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP)External Link and the Victorian Immunisation schedule for these special-risk groups.

Key messages

  • The National Immunisation Program (NIP)External Link provides free essential vaccines to eligible people
  • Refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age can access free NIP catch-up vaccines.
  • Additional vaccines are recommended for:
    • people with medical risk factors
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • In Victoria some special-risk groups are eligible to receive some vaccines for free.
  • Providers can access resources to support catch-up vaccination

Vulnerable citizens

Some people facing social or economic challenges may not have access to vaccines during their period of eligibility. Vulnerable citizens are vaccinated based on an individual assessment by an immunisation provider.

Children and adolescents in out-of-home care

Children and adolescents living in out-of-home care are often behind with their immunisations.

Carers can give a GP permission to vaccinate a child in their care if they have official authorisation.

This authorisation can be a:

  • standard authorisation from the child’s care organisation, or
  • child-specific authorisation from Child Protection.

These documents allow carers to make decisions about routine medical care, including vaccinations.

People with medical risk conditions

Extra vaccines are recommended for people with certain medical conditions.

Please refer to the below link for more information:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Additional vaccines are recommended at certain ages.

Refugees and humanitarian entrants

Specified vaccines are funded for all ages, regardless of Medicare status

Catch-up vaccination

Resources are available to support immunisation providers to develop catch-up vaccination plans for eligible people in these special risk groups.

Reviewed 23 September 2025

Health.vic

Contact details

Opening hours:  9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Immunisation Program Department of Health

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