Immunisation

1. Overview

Moreton Bay Regional Council’s immunisation clinics provide free vaccinations to eligible residents as recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council. If you are not eligible for free vaccination, Council can also provide some vaccines at cost. Clinics are delivered by qualified Registered Nurses who are authorised to provide vaccination services.

2. Community immunisation clinics

Council operates immunisation clinics across the region on a rotational basis. Vaccinations on the National Immunisation Schedule are free of charge. The following vaccines are also available for purchase:

• Influenza
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Hepatitis B (adult)
• Hepatitis A and B combination
• Meningococcal ACWY

Attending a clinic

• No appointment is necessary
• Baby vaccinations: bring your child’s health record book (red book) and Medicare card
• Other vaccinations: bring your Medicare card
• You will be required to wait for 15 minutes after receiving your vaccination
• If purchasing a vaccine, you can pay on the day with a credit or debit card. Cash payments are not accepted.

Note: No clinics on fifth Tuesday, public holidays or during Council Christmas close down period.

3. Immunisation program schedule

To view the vaccines recommended and funded for age groups and at-risk individuals, as well as information about the diseases that are vaccinated against, visit the National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Immunisation Program Schedule.

4. School immunisation program

Students attending secondary schools within the Moreton Bay Region are eligible for free vaccination through the School Immunisation Program. Vaccines are provided in accordance with the recommendations of the National Health and Medical Research Council. Detailed information and consent forms will be distributed via your child’s school.

Only students with completed and signed consent cards on the day of the school immunisation clinic will be vaccinated. If you choose not to have your child vaccinated at school, you will need to sign and return the official ‘NO to Vaccination’ non-consent card.

The following vaccines are offered:

Before the first school visit, your child will be given a consent pack that contains the following:

• details about the disease, benefits of immunisation and any common side effects
• vaccination consent card

Free Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination Program

The Queensland government is currently providing meningococcal ACWY vaccine free of charge to anyone aged 15 to 19 years. Adolescents and young adults have higher rates of meningococcal carriage and vaccinating this high risk age group will help reduce the spread of meningococcal bacteria to the wider community. These vaccines are available free of charge from Community Immunisation Clinics. No appointment is necessary.

For more information on the vaccine and the program visit Queensland Health - Meningococcal ACWY.

5. Catch-up vaccinations

Parents of students who have missed school vaccinations will receive a letter advising options and vaccination due dates. Timely catch-up is recommended to ensure your child can continue to participate in the School Immunisation Program. The vaccine is free at Council's immunisation clinics or your family doctor. Your doctor may charge a consultation fee.

If your child has had a catch-up vaccination at the doctor, you must immediately advise Council in writing to avoid your child being given a duplicate dose at the next school immunisation clinic. This can be completed by emailing immunisation@moretonbay.qld.gov.au and supplying the following information:

• Student's full name
• Date of birth
• School
• Grade/year level
• Vaccine administered by the doctor
• Batch number
• Date given
• Doctor's details
• Parent name and contact number

Individuals aged 10 to 19 years are eligible for the free catch-up vaccines listed below at Council's immunisation clinics through the National Immunisation Program.

Refugees and other humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over are eligible for the free catch-up vaccines listed below at Council's immunisation clinics through the National Immunisation Program.

6. Seniors' vaccinations

Adults from 65 years are eligible to receive a free flu vaccination annually. These vaccines are available at Council's immunisation clinics from mid to late April each year. Please contact Council prior to attending a clinic to confirm the availability of the vaccines.

One dose of pneumovax vaccine is provided free however, if you are considered 'medically at risk' four years after you receive your first dose, you are eligible to an additional dose of the pneumovax vaccine.

National shingles vaccination program

The shingles vaccination (Zostavax) is available free for all adults aged 70 years as part of the National Immunisation Program. This also includes a free catch-up vaccination for those aged 71-79 years. The catchup vaccinations will be offered until 31 October 2021. The vaccine is not available at Council's immunisation clinics. Please visit your family GP to access this free vaccination.

7. Immunisation records

The Australian Immunisation Register

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia. It does not record vaccines given before 1 January 1996, and only records information that vaccination providers put on it.

If you think a vaccine is missing from your immunisation history statement, ask your provider to update the AIR.

Child immunisation records

You can get a copy of your child's statement if they are under 14 years. For privacy reasons, anyone aged 14 or older must get their own statement.

You can get a statement held on AIR:

• Online through Medicare Online Services
• Using the Medicare Express Plus App
• Contacting AIR on 1800 653 809
• Attending in person at a local Medicare Service Centre
• Online through your myGov account, register for a myGov account.

If your child has been immunised overseas, you can have the details transcribed to the AIR by visiting your doctor and asking them to upload the details.

Adult immunisation records

Adult immunisations have not previously been recorded on national or state registers. To find past immunisation records, you can ask the GP or immunisation provider who provided the vaccinations to check their medical records.

Council immunisation records

Council holds records of vaccinations administered in Council's immunisation clinics and can provide you with an immunisation history. Due to privacy laws, you will be required to confirm your identity when contacting Council for your immunisation records. To request immunisation records contact Council.