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For some children (and their parents), injections and childhood immunisations can be a stressful time. The experienced nurses are highly trained and skilled at dealing with these situations and will do their best to put everyone at ease. Please speak with the receptionists or the nurse beforehand if you are in any way concerned.
In Australia the childhood immunisation schedule (National Immunisation Program/NIP) runs from birth. Click here to see the full immunisation schedule.
Most of the childhood vaccines are directly billed to Medicare at Health e Medical Centre. There are additional vaccines eg. Meningococcal B vaccine, private flu vaccines, travel vaccines, that are not funded by the Government and attract an out of pocket fee. This is in addition to the out of pocket fee the doctors charge for the consultation. Speak with a team member if you have questions about out of pocket costs for the vaccines and individual doctors.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious and life-threatening, infection. It is caused by strains of the bacteria called Neisseria Meningitidis. It can affect people of any age, however, infants and young children (under the age of 2), teenagers (aged 15-19) and Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders (under 19 years) have a slightly higher risk of infection.
In Australia, there are vaccines available against Meningococcal ACWY & B strains. Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine is offered to all children at their scheduled 12 month immunisations, and to young adults in year 10.
Meningococcal B Vaccination is currently not on the national immunisation schedule, but is available at a private cost to any child over the age of 6 weeks**. They can have this with their routine scheduled immunisations from 6 weeks of age, or separately if preferred. We have this in stock always, please call to book.
The number of doses required depends of the age which the vaccination is commenced – usually 2 or 3 doses.
Like all vaccines, BEXSERO can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. When BEXSERO is given to you or your child, the most common side effects that you may get are:
• pain/ redness/ swelling at the injection site
• lump/ hardness of skin at injection (which goes away naturally)
• fever (38°C or higher)
• feeling irritable.
It is not usually recommended to give paracetamol routinely for childhood immunisations, however it is recommended to give paracetamol (15 mg/kg per dose) 30 minutes before every dose of meningococcal B vaccine given to children under two years of age or as soon as practicable. Follow this with two more doses of paracetamol given 6 hours apart, even if the children do not have a fever. Please speak with your GP if you have any questions.
**Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Infants and children are eligible for free Meningococcal b vaccination if aged under 2 years of age
Chickenpox Vaccine
Varilrix (chickenpox) vaccine is available free of charge under the NIP for children at their 18 months immunisations. It is recommend to have a booster dose (not funded – out of pocket cost) to increase protection to roughly 95% (87% effective after 1 chickenpox vaccination). This is available at any time after 12 months of age.
Seasonal Influenza (flu)Vaccination
Children aged from six months to less than five years of age are eligible for funded flu vaccines.
Flu vaccines have been show to reduce the risk of influenza (flu) infection, reduce the severity of the disease, minimise the spread of flu and protect vulnerable groups including babies too young to receive the vaccine, those medically at risk and those with weakened immune systems.
- There is a private nurse lead influenza (flu) vaccination clinic for parents and other family members at some times of the year
Please speak with a receptionist as there may be some additional costs associated with the procedure despite the vaccine itself being supplied free of charge.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccines are funded under the NIP fir 10 – 13 year olds who have not received a primary course. Contact Health e Medical Centre to book in today