Vaccinations

• Let the nurse or doctor know about any allergies, particularly to eggs, latex, or previous vaccine components

• Inform the clinic if you have had a serious reaction to a vaccine in the past

• Let the clinic know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Inform the clinic if you are immunosuppressed or taking immunosuppressive medications, as some live vaccines may not be safe for you

• You do not need to fast before vaccination

• Wear loose clothing with easy access to your upper arm

• Bring your immunisation history if you have it, or your Medicare details so the clinic can review your Australian Immunisation Register records

You will be asked to remain at the clinic for 15 minutes after vaccination so we can monitor you for any immediate reactions. This is standard practice for all vaccine recipients.

Common and expected side effects:

These typically resolve within 1-2 days and require no treatment other than rest and pain relief if needed:

• Soreness, redness, warmth, or mild swelling at the injection site

• Mild fever

• Fatigue or feeling generally unwell

• Headache

• Muscle aches

A cool compress and paracetamol (not aspirin in children) are appropriate for managing injection site discomfort and mild fever.

Rare side effects:

Serious reactions to vaccines are rare. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or collapse. These typically occur within minutes of vaccination, which is why you are observed for 15 minutes afterward. Call 000 immediately if a serious reaction occurs after leaving the clinic.

Vaccines used in Australia are rigorously tested for safety and efficacy before approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and continue to be monitored after approval through ongoing surveillance programs.

The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people. Vaccine-preventable diseases can cause serious illness, long-term disability, and death. Many of these diseases have become rare in Australia precisely because of high vaccination rates in the community.

Herd immunity is the protection that occurs when a high proportion of the population is immune to a disease. Herd immunity helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, including newborns, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients. Maintaining high vaccination rates across the community is a collective responsibility.

If you have questions or concerns about a specific vaccine, please raise them with your GP. Your doctor can provide accurate, evidence-based information to help you make an informed decision.

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia. Your vaccination history is automatically recorded on the AIR when a vaccine is administered at our clinic.

You can view your own immunisation history at any time through myGov linked to Medicare, or by requesting an immunisation history statement through Services Australia.

Your AIR record may be required for:

• School enrolment

• Childcare enrolment (No Jab No Pay requirements)

• Employment in certain industries such as healthcare and aged care

• Immigration and visa applications

• Travel

If you believe your AIR records are incomplete, speak with your GP or contact Services Australia.

Yes. Multiple vaccines can be given safely at the same visit. This is standard practice for childhood immunisations and is safe and effective. Your immune system is well equipped to respond to multiple vaccines simultaneously.

Our clinic staff can access your Australian Immunisation Register record to review your documented vaccine history. If records are incomplete or unavailable, in most cases it is safe to re-vaccinate rather than assume previous protection. Blood tests to check immunity are available for some diseases if needed.

Yes. Some childhood vaccines do not provide lifelong protection and require boosters in adulthood. Additionally, some vaccines such as flu and shingles are specifically recommended in adult or older life. Your GP can review your records and advise what is currently recommended for you.

Yes. Live attenuated vaccines (including MMR, varicella, Zostavax (shingles), and the nasal flu vaccine) are generally not recommended for people who are significantly immunosuppressed, as the weakened live virus in the vaccine can potentially cause disease. Non-live (inactivated or recombinant) vaccines are safe to give but may produce a reduced immune response in immunosuppressed patients. Your GP will advise on what is safe and appropriate for your situation.

No. This claim originated from a 1998 study that has since been fully retracted due to serious ethical violations and data fraud. Extensive research involving millions of children across multiple countries has found no link between vaccines and autism. The original author lost his medical licence as a result of his conduct. If you have concerns about this or any other vaccine safety question, please speak with your GP.

The Australian Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing states:

“No. There is no established link between vaccines and autism. The measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine doesn’t cause autism. High-quality studies and reviews over many years have compared the health of large numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated children. The studies found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Scientific studies and reviews continue to show no relationship between vaccines and autism.

The suggested link between the MMR vaccine and autism was first published in 1998 in a research paper published in a respected medical journal.

Since then, scientists have completely discredited this paper based on only 12 children. In 2004, the authors retracted their claim of a link between vaccination and autism. In 2010, the journal withdrew the paper after the UK’s General Medical Council found the results in the paper had proved to be false. The journal issued a retraction.”

Reference

Vaccines protect us by using our body’s natural defences to build resistance to specific infections before we come into contact with them. 

When a child gets a vaccine, their body produces an immune response in the same way it would after exposure to a disease. If the child comes in contact with that disease in the future, their immune system remembers it and responds quickly, preventing the disease from developing.

Vaccines give protection without causing disease. They are safer than getting the disease itself.

No. There is no evidence that vaccines cause or worsen asthma or allergies. It is important that patients with asthma or allergies are vaccinated to reduce their chance of getting a serious infection, which could make their existing condition worse.

Some vaccines contain ingredients that can be allergens. So, if you or your child is allergic to any foods or medicines, you should tell your doctor or nurse so they can check that the vaccines they plan to give are safe.