Can I get vaccinated at a pharmacy? Vaccines and ages by state

Can I get vaccinated at a pharmacy?

Yes. Pharmacists who have done accredited immunisation training can vaccinate you without a doctor’s script. Each state and territory sets which vaccines they can give and from what age, so the rules differ across the country.

Not every pharmacy vaccinates, and some need a booking, so call ahead.

Which vaccines are free?

Vaccines on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) are free for eligible people who hold, or are eligible for, a Medicare card. At pharmacies in the government’s NIP vaccinations in pharmacy program, eligible people aged 5 and over pay nothing for the vaccine or for having it given.

Who’s eligible depends on the vaccine (as at October 2026):

People under 20 can catch up on missed childhood vaccines for free, and on the HPV vaccine up to and including age 25. Refugees and humanitarian entrants can catch up for free at any age.

States and territories also fund some extra vaccines, so check your state’s immunisation schedule too.

What if I’m not eligible for a free vaccine?

You can usually buy it at the pharmacy. You pay for the vaccine and a fee for giving it. Some private health insurers supply flu vaccines to pharmacies so their members can have one without paying, so it’s worth asking.

A pharmacy that isn’t in the NIP program may charge a fee for giving a free vaccine. So can one giving a free vaccine to a child under 5, though it can’t charge for the vaccine itself. From 1 January 2027, the program’s age limit is due to go, and pharmacies will be paid for giving NIP vaccines to eligible people of any age.

From what age can a pharmacist vaccinate?

Where there’s no set age, the pharmacist follows the Australian Immunisation Handbook and their own training.

New South Wales

Trained pharmacists can give flu vaccines from age 2 and most other vaccines from 5, including whooping cough, MMR, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal and COVID-19. Shingles vaccine is from 18. They can also give travel vaccines such as typhoid, cholera and rabies. Find pharmacies in NSW.

Victoria

Pharmacist immunisers give flu vaccines from age 5, HPV and whooping cough vaccines from 12, MMR and meningococcal ACWY from 15, and shingles and pneumococcal vaccines from 50. They also give COVID-19, Japanese encephalitis, mpox and RSV vaccines. Pharmacists in the state’s Community Pharmacist Program can give some travel vaccines, such as hepatitis A and typhoid. Find pharmacies in Victoria.

Queensland

Since 1 March 2026, trained pharmacists can give any prescription-only vaccine in line with the Australian Immunisation Handbook, with no age or location limits, as long as it’s within their own training and experience. Find pharmacies in Queensland.

South Australia

Since January 2025, trained pharmacists can give vaccines as the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends, rather than from a fixed list, including travel vaccines bought privately. They can give NIP vaccines to children from 6 months. Find pharmacies in South Australia.

Western Australia

Trained pharmacists can give vaccines on the WA Immunisation Schedule from age 5. Since 10 March 2026 they can give flu vaccines from age 2, and since 1 October 2026 COVID-19 vaccines are on the same list. Find pharmacies in WA.

Tasmania

Since 1 March 2026, authorised pharmacist immunisers can give flu vaccines from age 2 and most other vaccines from 5. The HPV vaccine is from 9 and shingles from 18. Travel vaccines need a prescription first. Find pharmacies in Tasmania.

Australian Capital Territory

Trained pharmacists can give flu vaccines from age 2 and most other vaccines from 5, including travel vaccines such as typhoid and rabies. The HPV vaccine is from 10, shingles from 18, and pneumococcal from 70, or 50 for Aboriginal people. Find pharmacies in the ACT.

Northern Territory

Since 27 April 2026, trained pharmacists can vaccinate people aged 2 and over, for vaccines on the National Immunisation Program and the NT’s own schedules. Find pharmacies in the NT.

What happens when I get vaccinated at a pharmacy?

The pharmacist asks about your health and any past reactions, and checks your record on the Australian Immunisation Register. The vaccine is given in a consulting room or private area, and you’ll be asked to wait about 15 minutes afterwards so the pharmacist can watch for a reaction. The pharmacist then records the vaccine on the register.

Bring your Medicare card. If you need travel vaccines, ask well before you leave. Yellow fever vaccine is only given at accredited clinics.

To find one near you, look up pharmacies near you and ring to ask which vaccines they give and whether you need to book. Many pharmacies can also treat minor conditions: what pharmacists can prescribe covers that state by state.