Vaccinations at 14–16 years

Key facts

  • Meningococcal vaccination is recommended for all adolescents at 14–16 years of age (year 10 or age equivalent):

    • One meningococcal vaccine dose (MenACWY) is part of the National Immunisation Program and is available for free through school vaccination programs.
    • Two doses of a different meningococcal vaccine (MenB) are also recommended. In South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, this vaccine is free and available through school vaccination programs. If you live in other states and territories and choose to get your adolescent the vaccine, you may be charged a fee for both the vaccine and the clinic visit.

  • Meningococcal vaccines are also available through a doctor, a clinic nurse or a community health worker. In some areas, a pharmacist may also be able to provide them. If your adolescent is vaccinated outside of school, you may have to pay a fee for the clinic visit.

  • Some adolescents with very weak immune systems (severely immunocompromised) and those who have certain medical risk conditions may need additional meningococcal vaccine doses to be fully protected against the disease.

  • It is also recommended that all adolescents receive an influenza (flu) vaccine before the flu season each year. Only some adolescents qualify for a free flu vaccine under the National Immunisation Program.

Last updated on 21 August 2025.

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What free vaccines are recommended for my adolescent?

One age-specific vaccine is recommended and free for all 14–16-year-olds (year 10 or age equivalent). The technical name of the vaccine is MenACWY-TT. It is a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine that protects against the A, C, W and Y strains that cause meningococcal disease.

Some adolescents with certain health or medical risk conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth may be eligible for free vaccines or additional vaccine doses. Speak with your doctor, nurse or community health worker to understand if your adolescent qualifies.

What vaccines are recommended but may not be free?

It is also recommended that your adolescent gets two doses of a vaccine to protect them against meningococcal B (Men B). This vaccine is only free for adolescents who live in South Australia and Queensland.

It is also recommended that all adolescents get an influenza (flu) vaccine before the flu season each year.

These vaccines are only free for certain adolescents or in some states and territories. If your adolescent is not eligible for free vaccination and you choose to have them vaccinated, you may face out of pocket costs for both the meningococcal B (Men B) and influenza (flu) vaccines and clinic visits.

What diseases do the vaccines protect my adolescent against?

The vaccines recommended for your adolescent at 14-16 years old will strengthen their immunity to the following diseases.

All meningococcal germs (meningococcal bacteria A, C, W, Y and B) can cause swelling (inflammation) around the brain (meningitis) and blood poisoning (bacteria in the blood, also called septicaemia).

Meningococcal germs (bacteria) live harmlessly in the mucous found in a person’s nose and throat. When people cough or kiss, germs can spread between them. Rarely, they make their way into the body and cause meningococcal disease, which can be fatal.

Adolescents who survive meningococcal disease can have brain damage or other long-term problems, like severe scars, deafness or arms or legs that need to be removed by surgery (amputations).1

Learn more about meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccination

Influenza (commonly known as ‘the flu’) is a viral infection. Illness usually begins with a sudden onset of symptoms that can include: 

  • high temperature (fever)
  • shivering/shaking (chills)
  • headache
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • extreme tiredness and lack of energy (fatigue). 

If it progresses, flu can also cause your body to lose water (dehydration) and lead to other complications such as lung infections (pneumonia) or swollen airways (bronchitis). More serious complications can also occur, including: 

  • secondary bacterial infections
  • heart, blood and nervous system (neurological) abnormalities such as swelling (inflammation) of the brain (encephalitis). 

Adolescents with certain medical health conditions (such as asthma or a heart defect) and some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth are more likely to become so unwell from influenza that they need treatment in hospital.

Learn more about influenza and influenza vaccination [link to be inserted]

Adolescents with certain health and medical risk conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth may qualify for additional free vaccines or vaccine doses. Speak with your doctor, nurse or community health worker to understand if your adolescent qualifies.

What do I need to do before the vaccination?

Your adolescent can be vaccinated in a few different locations, including at their school, a GP clinic or a community health clinic. Pharmacists can also vaccinate adolescents for many of the recommended vaccines provided by the National Immunisation Program.

The vaccines given at school are free. If your adolescent gets vaccinated at a clinic or a pharmacy, you may be charged a fee for the visit.
 

To receive a free school vaccine, parents or guardians must complete and return a consent form. This form can be available online or through a printed information pack sent home by the school. You give permission for your adolescent to get vaccinated at school by completing and returning the consent form.

Learn more about how to prepare for school vaccination

Your adolescent can also receive their routine or recommended vaccines through a clinic visit with a doctor, nurse, community health worker and in all states and territories, a pharmacist. Contact your preferred vaccination provider to ask about the specific vaccines they can provide and to arrange an appointment. You may be charged a fee for these vaccination visits.

Learn more about how to prepare for your clinic

What do I need to do after the vaccination?

After their vaccinations, your adolescent may be tired and want to rest more than usual. Some adolescents also experience mild discomfort or pain where the injection was given. These symptoms should only last for a day or two.

Serious side effects are very rare, but they can happen. Some parents want to know more about them before they vaccinate their adolescent.

If your adolescent doesn’t seem to be getting better after their vaccines or you are worried about them, you can get help:

  • from your doctor
  • at your nearest emergency department
  • by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
When does my adolescent need their next vaccinations?

If your adolescent has had one dose of a meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine, they may need a second dose. The time between doses depends on which meningococcal B vaccine they were given first when they were given it. Speak with your doctor, nurse or community health worker to understand when or if your adolescent needs a second dose.

It is also recommended that your adolescent get a influenza (flu) vaccine every year before the flu season.

The next age-specific vaccinations are recommended for adults. The vaccines needed in adulthood depend on a person’s age, medical status, pregnancy status, occupation, travel habits and health situation. 

What if I still have questions?

You can read some answers to common questions here.

If you still have questions about vaccinations for your adolescent, write them down and make an appointment with your doctor, nurse or community health worker so you can ask them.

Please note: In SKAI Adolescent, the phrase ‘your adolescent’ refers to all guardian relationships where health decisions for an adolescent fall under your responsibility.

Drafts of this page were reviewed by members of our Consumer Advisory Group.


  1. Harrison LH, Granoff DM & Pollard AJ. Meningococcal capsular group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccines. In Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, Edwards KM, eds. Plotkin's vaccines. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.