Priority populations

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Why vaccination is important

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have higher rates of some vaccine preventable diseases than non-Indigenous persons. This is linked to higher rates of chronic conditions, crowded housing, challenges accessing healthcare in rural and remote areas, and the impacts of social and economic disadvantage.

Because of this higher risk, extra immunisations are available free through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) or they are offered at different age points.

The recommendations and funding for additional immunisations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may vary from state to state, based on the local disease burden.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in Queensland, these can include:

Hepatitis A
Influenza
Tuberculosis (BCG [bacille Calmette–Guérin] vaccine)
Pneumococcal
Meningococcal B

For more information, refer to Immunisation Schedule Queensland 2025 Children.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, these can include:

Hepatitis B (if not previously immunised)
Influenza
Shingles
Pneumococcal
Respiratory syncytial virus

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who also have certain medical conditions may be eligible for additional immunisations. Please refer to Immunisation Schedule Queensland 2025 Adolescents, Adults and additional vaccination for people with medical risk conditions for further information.

Missed immunisations

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are eligible for free catch-up of routine childhood immunisations up until 20 years of age (25 years for HPV). Catch-up meningococcal B immunisation is also funded up to 2 years of age.

For those aged 10–19/20 years, a funded catch-up schedule is available in Queensland. This covers diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, meningococcal C, ACWY and B (depending on age), varicella (chickenpox) and HPV if not yet completed.

If earlier doses have been missed, a reduced number of catch-up doses may be sufficient to bring the child or adolescent up to date.

For more information, refer to the Queensland Health funded immunisation catch-up schedule for people aged from 10 years. (PDF 138 kB)

Bubba Jabs

Bubba Jabs is a collection of culturally relevant resources designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island childhood immunisation. The term “bubba” is widely used in communities to describe babies and young children, making the resources approachable, family-focused and meaningful.

Why use Bubba Jabs?

Co-designed with community – ensuring messages are culturally appropriate and resonate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island families.
Proven and evaluated – shown to improve knowledge and support timely uptake of childhood immunisations.
Practical tools – posters, magnets and reminders that families can easily use to track appointments and stay up to date.
Statewide adoption – trusted by PHUs, HHSs and immunisation providers across Queensland.

Clinicians and health workers are encouraged to use Bubba Jabs resources in practice and share them with families.

Bubba Jabs on Time initiative

Developed in collaboration with the Health Contact Centre (HCC), Bubba Jabs on Time is a statewide immunisation initiative that supports families to keep children under five years of age up to date. Using the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), the HCC identifies children who are overdue and follows up with:

phone, email or letter contact with parents and carers
direct contact with immunisation providers
correction of AIR records when errors are found.

This proactive follow-up has reduced delays and improved immunisation timeliness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Resources

Bubba Jabs resources are available to download. Printed versions may also be available through your local Public Health Unit.

Bubba Jabs schedule poster (PDF 1785 kB) – outlines the Queensland childhood National Immunisation Schedule (NIP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children, with timepoints, diseases targeted, vaccines, and graphics showing the number of injections/medicines at each visit.
Bubba Jabs promotional poster (PDF 215 kB) – prompts parents and carers to think about timeliness and keeping children up to date with immunisations.
Bubba Jabs fridge magnet (PDF 1581 kB) – provides space to record dates for immunisation appointments for each childhood timepoint. Can be printed on paper or card.
Free flu jabs for bubbas poster (PDF 298 kB) – promotes free influenza vaccine for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children from 6 months of age.
No one protects like you poster (PDF 987 kB) – encourages women to get vaccinated during pregnancy as the best way to protect their child.
Influenza vaccination begins with you poster (PDF 2381 kB) – promotes influenza vaccination in pregnancy, targeting Torres Strait Island women.

Background

Bubba Jabs was first developed in 2011 by the Tropical Public Health Unit in Cairns through co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island families and health workers. While it began as a north Queensland initiative, it has since been evaluated, updated, and widely adopted across the state.

Further information

Queensland

Australian Government

Last updated: 7 August 2025