Infants and children are recommended to receive diphtheria-toxoid vaccine in a 5-dose schedule

Diphtheria-toxoid vaccine is recommended in a 5-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months, and 4 years of age.

Infants and children receive diphtheria toxoid in combination with tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis, as DTPa (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis)-containing vaccines.

Infants can have their 1st dose of diphtheria-toxoid vaccine as early as 6 weeks of age. This can reduce the risk of illness or death from pertussis. See Table. Minimum acceptable age for the 1st dose of scheduled vaccines in infants in special circumstances in Catch-up vaccination. 

If the 1^st dose of diphtheria-toxoid vaccine is given at the age of 6 weeks, infants should still receive their next scheduled doses at 4 months and 6 months of age (see Pertussis). Multiple doses of diphtheria-toxoid vaccines during childhood are needed to provide a protective level of immunity.¹

The vaccines usually received at each schedule point are:

• 2, 4 and 6 months of age — DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b). There is no preferential recommendation between the use of DT5aP-hepB-IPV-Hib(PRP-OMP) vaccine (Vaxelis) and DT3aP-hepB-IPV-Hib (PRP-TT) vaccine (Infanrix hexa)
• 18 months of age — DTPa
• 4 years of age — DTPa-IPV

DTPa-containing vaccine is funded through the NIP for all infants and children. For details see the National Immunisation Program schedule.