Puppy vaccination schedule in Australia: C3, C5 and what to ask your vet

In Australia, a puppy's first core vaccine is usually given at 6 to 8 weeks, with boosters every 2 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, then one at around 6 months. A C3 covers the core vaccines; a C5 adds protection against parainfluenza and Bordetella, which both contribute to kennel cough. Your vet sets your puppy's own schedule.

What do C3 and C5 cover?

A C3 covers the three core vaccines for dogs, against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus; a C5 adds protection against parainfluenza and Bordetella, which both contribute to kennel cough. RSPCA Australia explains it plainly.

The core vaccines, it says, are the ones recommended for all dogs because they protect against potentially fatal diseases. In dogs these are canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus, and they are combined within a single vaccine commonly known in Australia as the C3 vaccine.

A C5 builds on that. RSPCA Australia says non-core vaccines are given depending on the individual dog's risk, based on the dog's location, lifestyle and chance of exposure. In Australia these include protection against the diseases caused by canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica, which both contribute to kennel cough, and leptospirosis. It says the parainfluenza and Bordetella vaccine, commonly given together with the core vaccines and known as a C5, is recommended for dogs who regularly come into contact with other dogs, such as on walks, at the park, day-care, puppy preschool, or boarding.

That last point is the reason a C5 often comes up for a puppy: puppy preschool and boarding are both on the list. Whether your puppy needs it is a question for your vet.

A typical puppy vaccination schedule

These are typical timings. Ask your vet to confirm the right schedule for your puppy.

Source: RSPCA Australia, What vaccinations should my dog receive?, updated 5 March 2026. The timings are the ones that page gives, drawn from the 2024 WSAVA vaccination guidelines.

RSPCA Australia says current guidelines recommend that a puppy's first core vaccine is given at 6 to 8 weeks of age, then a booster every 2 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age. It explains why the finish line matters: puppies receive antibodies from their mother, which protect them early but can also interfere with how well a vaccine works until they fade, and how long that takes varies from puppy to puppy. With the last puppy vaccination given at 16 weeks or older, those antibodies are expected to have dropped low enough that they no longer get in the way.

It also notes that the WSAVA gives an example schedule for a puppy that starts at 8 weeks, where a four week interval between vaccinations would total three puppy vaccinations by 16 weeks of age. Then a booster is recommended at 6 months, to make sure a protective response has developed in any dog who did not respond fully to the first course.

One point runs through all of it. RSPCA Australia says different vets may use different vaccination protocols, and that it is best to check with your vet which vaccines and protocols they use.

When can my puppy go out and meet other dogs?

RSPCA Australia sets out the Australian Veterinary Association's view that, as long as adequate precautions are taken, a puppy usually has a low risk of picking up an infectious disease, and the benefits of appropriate socialisation outweigh the risks.

It adds that interactions with animals who are not up to date with their vaccinations, who are unsocialised, unwell or of unknown health status should be avoided, as should public areas where animals of unknown health status may have been, such as dog parks.

For socialising before full vaccination, it says the Australian Veterinary Association advises that options include well run, reputable puppy classes held indoors, and fully vaccinated healthy pets in their own homes.

The page's own line on this is the one to keep: check with your veterinarian when your puppy will be fully vaccinated and can safely go to public places. Until then, the emphasis is on safe, positive experiences with a low risk of exposure.

Boosters for adult dogs

The puppy course is not the end of it. RSPCA Australia says that once a dog has completed all their core puppy vaccinations and the booster at 6 months, they should have their core vaccination every 1 to 3 years, depending on how long the immunity provided by the vaccine lasts. That interval depends on the vaccine your vet uses, so it is another thing to ask about. If a vet has recommended any of the non-core vaccinations, it says, those are generally needed annually.

If you take on a dog of 26 weeks or older whose vaccination history is unknown or incomplete, the page says a single core vaccination will likely provide adequate protection, but that it is important to speak to your vet for advice.

Is the schedule the same across Australia?

The core puppy schedule above comes from national guidance, not from any one state. Which non-core vaccines your puppy needs can depend on where you live: RSPCA Australia says they are given depending on the individual dog's risk, based on the dog's location, lifestyle and chance of exposure. Ask your vet what applies where you live.

RSPCA Australia also notes that Australia is a rabies free country, so a rabies vaccine is not necessary for dogs remaining here. If you plan to travel with your dog, ask your vet what is needed for the destination.

What to note for your vet

When your puppy has a vaccination, a few details are worth keeping:

• The date it was given, and what it was.
• The date the next one is due, so the course finishes on time.
• Which vet gave it, especially if you move or change clinics.
• The certificate, kept somewhere you can find it, because boarding, daycare and travel may ask for it.

You do not need to work out which vaccine your puppy needs. That is your vet's job. Your part is keeping the record straight.

How My Furly helps you keep track

My Furly is a place to keep your puppy's health story, so their vaccination history is there when you need it.

Each vaccination, with its next due date. Add each vaccination as it is given, with the date the next one is due, so the next date is on the record where you can see it.

Keep the certificate on the record. A photo of the vaccination certificate, or a PDF from the clinic, can sit on your puppy's record alongside everything else.

A dated entry on one timeline. A note after each visit sits on the same timeline as vet visits and other health events, so the course of the first year, and every year after, reads in order.

A private link for your vet, a kennel or a groomer. When you choose to, you can create a private link with an access code and send it where it is needed. A boarding kennel, a groomer or a new vet sees your dog's timeline, vaccinations, weight and documents, so nobody has to reconstruct the history from memory. You stay in control, and you can replace the link at any time.

None of this replaces your vet. It means the vaccination history is one place, and not a set of dates you are trying to hold in your head.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between C3 and C5?

A C3 covers the three core vaccines for dogs. RSPCA Australia says these are canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus, combined in a single vaccine commonly known in Australia as the C3. A C5 adds protection against the diseases caused by canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica, which both contribute to kennel cough.

When do puppies get their vaccinations in Australia?

RSPCA Australia says current guidelines recommend a puppy's first core vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks of age, then a booster every 2 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks of age, and a booster at around 6 months.

Can my puppy meet other dogs before they are fully vaccinated?

RSPCA Australia sets out the Australian Veterinary Association's view that, with adequate precautions, the benefits of appropriate socialisation outweigh the risks. Interactions with animals who are not up to date with their vaccinations or of unknown health status should be avoided, as should public areas such as dog parks. Ask your vet when your puppy will be fully vaccinated.

How often do adult dogs need a booster?

RSPCA Australia says that once the puppy course and the 6 month booster are complete, core vaccination is given every 1 to 3 years, depending on the vaccine your vet uses. Non-core vaccinations are generally needed annually.

Is the vaccination schedule different in my state?

The core puppy schedule comes from national guidance, not from any one state. Which non-core vaccines your puppy needs can depend on where you live, so ask your vet what applies in your area.

What should I do with my puppy's vaccination certificate?

Keep it. A photo or a PDF of the certificate can live on your puppy's record, so it is there when a kennel, a groomer or a new vet asks for it.

Sources

• RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase. What vaccinations should my dog receive? Updated 5 March 2026. kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/dogs/caring-for-my-dog/what-vaccinations-should-my-dog-receive. Accessed 19 October 2026.
• WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association). Vaccination Guidelines. wsava.org/global-guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/. Accessed 19 October 2026.

More on your puppy's vaccinations

For why a single record matters more than scattered notes, see Everything about your pet, in one calm place. For fitting care into a real household, see Great pet care that fits your actual life.

Start keeping your puppy's vaccination record at myfurly.ai.

A gentle note

Furly helps you organise and understand your pet's history, and prepares you for the vet. It is not a diagnosis tool and does not replace professional care. If something worries you, or you are unsure about your puppy's vaccinations, speak to a licensed vet.