Pre-immunisation checklist
Pre-immunisation checklist
About immunisation
In Australia,
immunisations
are available to protect you from preventable diseases.
Before you have a vaccination, your GP or immunisation provider will ask you a number of questions to:
work out whether there are any risks to your health
ensure you have all the information you need before deciding to be immunised.
This pre-screening can also determine what vaccines you need based on your health, age, lifestyle and occupation (HALO).
The Immunisation for Life infographic can help you determine which immunisations you may need.
Immunisation for Life infographic (PDF)
376.29 KB
This immunisation checklist will help you prepare so you know what to expect, and what information you will need to give your GP or clinic staff.
Who provides immunisation?
COVID-19 vaccines:
For information about COVID-19 vaccines, see
COVID-19 vaccination
.
There are many different reasons why people need to be immunised.
Who provides them can also vary
.
In Victoria, immunisation providers include:
local councils
GPs
specially qualified nurses in clinics and community health services
travel clinics
some pharmacies and hospitals.
Some vaccines are free for eligible children and adults under the Australian Government’s
National Immunisation
Program
External Link
and the
Victorian government vaccine
programs
External Link
, while others are provided at a cost.
What to tell your GP or clinic nurse
Before receiving a vaccine, tell your GP (doctor) or nurse if you or the person about to be immunised:
is unwell on the day of vaccination
has a disease which lowers immunity (for example,
leukaemia
,
cancer
,
HIV
, severe combined immunodeficiency)
is having treatment which lowers immunity (for example, oral steroid medicines such as cortisone and prednisone, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [DMARDs],
radiotherapy
,
chemotherapy
)
is an infant of a mother who was receiving highly immunosuppressive therapy (for example, biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [bDMARDs] during pregnancy)
has had a severe reaction following any vaccine
has any
severe allergies
(to anything)
has had any vaccine in the past month
has had an injection of immunoglobulin, or received any blood products, or a whole
blood transfusion
in the past year
is
pregnant
is planning a pregnancy or anticipating parenthood
is a parent, grandparent or carer of an infant aged up to 6 months
has a past history of
Guillain-Barré syndrome
was a
preterm baby
born at less than 32 weeks gestation, or weighing less than 2,000 g at birth
is a baby who has had intussusception, or a congenital abnormality that may predispose to intussusception
has a chronic illness
has a bleeding disorder
does not have a functioning
spleen
lives with someone who has a disease which lowers immunity (for example, leukaemia, cancer, HIV)
lives with someone who is having treatment which lowers immunity (for example, oral steroid medicines such as cortisone and prednisone, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs [DMARDs] radiotherapy, chemotherapy)
identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
is planning
travel
has an
occupation
or lifestyle factor/s for which vaccination may be needed.
Questions from your GP or clinic nurse
Before they go ahead with any immunisation, your GP or clinic nurse will ask if you:
understand the information you’ve been given about the immunisation
need any more information before you decide whether to vaccinate
have brought any
vaccination records
with you.
Pre-immunisation screening
Doctors and immunisation staff have to thoroughly screen everyone before they give a vaccine. They should:
ensure they have the right person to be vaccinated
ensure they are giving the correct vaccine and dose, according to the schedule, including
catching up on missed vaccines
consider whether they should offer any alternative or additional vaccines
ensure the person being immunised is within the appropriate age range for that vaccine
check that enough time has passed since any previous vaccines.
Do you have all the information you need?
There’s a lot of information available about immunisation, and it’s easy for people to feel overwhelmed or not know where to start.
You may have
questions
such as:
Why is immunisation important
?
What vaccines do I or someone in my care need
?
What are the benefits of immunisation?
How safe are
vaccines
?
Are there any
side effects
?
What should I do if there are reactions to a vaccine?
Don’t be afraid to ask your GP or clinic nurse if you’re unsure. If you have young children, a maternal and child health nurse, or paediatrician can also help.
In fact, before you agree to any vaccines, your immunisation provider has to give you all the information you need to understand what is happening, answer any questions you may have and discuss your options.
And the information has to be given to you in a language you can understand, so if you need an interpreter or a cultural support person, your GP or clinic nurse should offer you one.
You should get enough information on the risks and benefits of the vaccine for you to make an informed decision about whether to have that immunisation. This information will also include any side effects, how common they are, and what you can do about them.
Consent is important
You must consent (in writing or verbally) before a vaccine can be given. Parents or guardians may be asked to complete a consent form for children (under 18 years) whether or not they choose to have their child vaccinated.
Your consent must be voluntary, without any pressure, coercion or manipulation. And you do not have to give your consent until your immunisation provider has explained the risks and benefits.
Remember, you can take your time before making a decision about immunisation.
Recording immunisation history
It is important to have an
immunisation record
. Your vaccine provider should give you a record of the vaccinations received for you to keep at home.
All immunisation providers must notify the
Australian Immunisation Register
(AIR)
External Link
about every vaccine they administer.
The register started for children in 1996 then expanded to adults from September 2016. Remind your vaccine provider to notify the register each time you are vaccinated.
There are a number of ways to access immunisation records on the AIR. The quickest is to request an Immunisation History Statement by using a
Medicare online
account
External Link
through
myGov
External Link
or the
Express Plus Medicare mobile
app
External Link
.
You can also:
Phone the Australian Immunisation Register enquiry line on Tel.
1800 653 809
.
Visit your local
Medicare
or
Centrelink
External Link
office.
Records prior to 1996 were usually kept locally, (such as with the local council immunisation service, GP, hospital or travel clinic). They may also have been recorded in a baby health book and given to parents or carers to keep at home.
Keeping childhood immunisations up to date
Once
children
have started immunisation, it is really important to keep their vaccinations up to date to help protect them from serious childhood infections.
It is also a legal requirement to provide an
Immunisation History Statement
when you enrol your child in childcare, kindergarten or primary school in Victoria.
One of the most common reasons children fall behind in their immunisations is because parents simply forget, especially as the vaccinations become more spread out.
Your local council or GP can immunise your child to
‘catch up’
on any missed vaccine doses.
Where can I get more information about immunisation?
Find out more about immunisation by speaking with your health professional. The best place to start is with your GP. You can also ask your clinic nurse or specialist.
There is also a lot of information online. If you would like to know more about immunisation, check out the
Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program
website
External Link
.
When looking for immunisation information, stick to reliable information providers, such as:
Better Health Channel
Raising Children
Network
External Link
Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre
(MVEC)
External Link
NPS
Medicinewise
External Link
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
(NCIRS)
External Link
Australian Academy of Science – The science of
immunisation
External Link
.
Sharing Knowledge About
Immunisation
External Link
.
Where to get help
In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
Your
GP (doctor)
Your local council immunisation service – visit
Know Your
Council
External Link
Nurse-on-Call
Tel.
1300 60 60 24
– for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
Immunisation Unit, Department of
Health
External Link
, Victorian Government Email:
immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
National Immunisation Information
Line
External Link
Tel.
1800 671 811
Maternal and Child Health Line
Tel.
13 22 29
(24 hours, 7 days)
Pharmacist
SAEFVIC
External Link
Tel.
1300 882 924
(select option 1)