Immunisations and Vaccines

Vaccination should be considered for first aid givers and persons who work with and in rural and remote sites and indigenous workers. Vaccination should also be considered for those who may be exposed to sewage at work, such as plumbers and food workers.

Hepatitis A Vaccine is given as an intra-muscular injection and the immunisation program for this vaccine consists of two injections 6 to 12 months apart.

Please note that a combined vaccine against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is available.

Hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended for all, and is now included in routine Australian infant and childhood vaccinations. As a standard Hepatitis B immunisation is required for all people working in a First Aid/Medical capacity.

There is good evidence that a successfully completed primary course of Hepatitis B vaccinations provides long lasting protection in normal (immuno-competent) individuals. If the primary course has produced a protective level of antibodies as detailed previously routine boosters are not recommended.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is given as a intra-muscular injection and the immunisation program for this vaccine consists of three injections, the initial vaccination, the second at one month and the third at six months. This program should be followed by a serology test to confirm that the individual has been successfully immunised.

Please note that a combined vaccine against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is available.

Tetanus can occur anywhere. Due to the availability of effective vaccines, tetanus is now a rare disease.

Immunization is not only important for children, but adults too. Even though adults may have been vaccinated as children, booster doses may be required to maintain immunity

Immunizations recommended for adults may relate to your age, your Indigenous status, your occupation, if you have had injury or illness, your vaccination history, plans to travel, or just part of staying healthy.

Tetanus vaccination is recommended for:

• All adults aged 50 years and over who have not received a booster dose in the previous 10 years
• Adults with a tetanus prone wound should receive a booster dose if more than 5 years have elapsed since the last tetanus dose.

The recommended 3-dose primary schedule is at 2, 4 and 6 months.

A single dose is recommended for people over the age of two who are travelling to endemic regions where food hygiene may be sub-optimal and drinking water may not be adequately treated.

Persons born before 1966 – No vaccination required

Persons born after 1966 – should have documented evidence of 2 doses of MMR-containing vaccine (administered at least 4 weeks apart and with both doses administered at ≥12 months of age; or have serological evidence of protection for measles, mumps and rubella.

A course of 3 doses of IPV (IPOL) or IPV-containing vaccines is recommended for the primary vaccination of adults. No adult should remain not vaccinated against poliomyelitis.

Pre exposure prophylaxis

The recommended schedule for pre-exposure prophylaxis for rabies consists of a total of 3 doses of vaccine

PreP with rabies vaccine is recommended for:

• persons liable to receive bites or scratches from bats (this includes bat handlers, veterinarians, wildlife officers and others who come into direct contact with bats) in any country, including Australia
• travellers and expatriates who will be spending time in rabies-enzootic areas; PreP should occur following a risk assessment that takes into consideration the likelihood of interaction with animals and access to emergency medical attention
• persons working with terrestrial animals in rabies-enzootic areas
• research laboratory personnel working with any live lyssaviruses

A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is recommended for:

• persons ≥9 months of age travelling to, or living in, an area with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission.
• laboratory personnel who routinely work with yellow fever virus