Who provides immunisations in Victoria

Who provides immunisations in Victoria?

People need immunisation in lots of different situations. Which vaccines you need depends on your health, age, lifestyle and occupation (HALO). The Immunisation for Life infographic can help you determine which immunisations you may need.

Who delivers the vaccines can also vary depending on why you need the vaccination.

Immunisations provided by local councils

In Victoria, local councils play a large role in providing immunisation services. They:

• provide free immunisations at community immunisation clinics to eligible persons under the National Immunisation Program (these are popular with families of infants, children and adolescents)
• provide free immunisations to adolescents at all secondary schools in the local council area
• provide immunisation services for refugees and humanitarian entrants.

Immunisations provided by GPs and medical clinics

Doctors (GPs) or nurses employed at medical clinics deliver a range of immunisation services, including giving immunisations that are provided on the National Immunisation Program Schedule, and Victorian government funded immunisation programs.

Although some immunisations are provided for free to eligible persons under the National Immunisation Program and Victorian government funded immunisation programs, a service fee may apply. If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can also purchase the vaccine and have it given to you by your GP or medical clinic nurse.

Immunisations provided in hospital

Public hospitals in Victoria provide free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program on an as-needs basis if they are recommended or required for a person with a medical condition. Maternity services also provide immunisations for pregnant women and newborn infants.

Immunisations can also be provided by private hospitals.

The Royal Children’s Hospital, and Monash Health provide hospital based immunisation services for their in-patients and out-patients in the hospital.

These services also provide specialist immunisation advice for:

• families concerned about the safety of a vaccine for their child
• people who have experienced a vaccine adverse event following immunisation.

Immunisations provided by travel medicine clinics

Travel medicine is a specialist area that can require specially trained doctors to determine what vaccines are needed, and to provide them. Some GPs and pharmacies an also provide travel vaccinations. Some vaccinations (such as those for yellow fever) are only provided by specific, accredited clinics.

Immunisations provided by pharmacists

Some specially qualified pharmacist immunisers can provide vaccines for:

• COVID-19
• Diphtheria-tetanus-Pertussis (whooping cough) – 5 years of age and over
• Herpes zoster (shingles) – adults.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) – 12 years of age and over
• Influenza (flu) – 5 years of age and over
• Japanese encephalitis
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – 5 years of age and over
• Meningococcal ACWY – 5 years of age and over
• Mpox
• Pneumococcal – 5 years of age and over
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - adults

These vaccines are free to eligible people under the National Immunisation Program, however a service fee may apply.

If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can also purchase some vaccines and have them given to you by the Pharmacist Immuniser.

Other services providing immunisations

Some other services and health professionals that can provide immunisations include:

• community health services
• Aboriginal health services
• some maternal and child health centres
• some obstetric services for pregnant women
• immigration health services.

Where to get help

• Your GP (doctor)
• Your local council immunisation service – visit Know your council
• Immunisation Program, Department of Health, Victorian Government Email: immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
• National Immunisation Information Line Tel. 1800 671 811
• Maternal and Child Health Line Tel. 13 22 29 (24 hours, 7 days)
• Community Pharmacist Program – receive some treatments at a local pharmacy without needing to see a doctor for a prescription in Victoria