21/05/2026
Diptheria Immunisation:
Children and adolescents should be vaccinated according to the Western Australian Immunisation Schedule.
Adults should receive a booster if they have not had one in the previous 10 years.
See Australian Immunisation Handbook – Diphtheria (external site).
If you are unsure of your immunisation history, log in to your myGov account, link it to your Medicare online account, and select “Proof of Vaccinations” to view or download your complete Immunisation History Statement.
Due to the current diphtheria outbreak in regional Western Australia, the following people are eligible for a booster vaccine if it has been more than 5 years since their last dose:
- Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living in the Kimberley, Pilbara or Goldfields regions.
- People with regular direct contact with Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, Pilbara or Goldfields regions.
- Patient-facing healthcare workers in the Kimberley, Pilbara or Goldfields regions.
- In addition, children and adolescents eligible under the National Immunisation Program, including school-based programs, who are not up to date with their scheduled diphtheria-containing vaccines, should be followed up and offered vaccination.
