Vaccines

Vaccinations

Northside Clinic vaccinations

Northside Clinic provides all childhood and adult vaccinations including travel immunisations to patients of Northside Clinic. Please note that vaccinations require an appointment with both a GP and a nurse on the same day.

Covid-19 vaccination

Last updated 5 July 2024

Northside Clinic is currently administering only the Pfizer Comirnaty Omicron XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine to existing patients 12 years and older (for patients under 12 years, please speak to your GP about alternatives).

Vaccination remains the most important measure to protect those at risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccines are recommended every 6 to 12 months for older adults and adults with severe immunocompromise due to their ongoing risk of severe COVID-19. See more below.
Recommendations for people who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine (a ‘primary course’) have been updated. See more below.
XBB.1.5-containing vaccines are preferred over other COVID-19 vaccines (an XBB.1.5-containing vaccine is not currently available for children aged 6 months—< 5 years).
COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with any other vaccine for people aged ≥5 years.
COVID-19 vaccines remain funded for eligible individuals.
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‍Advice about regular COVID-19 booster vaccinations

Regular COVID-19 vaccinations (also known as boosters) are the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

They are especially important for anyone aged 65 years or older and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19.

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Primary course recommendations

	6 months to 5 years	5 years to 18 years	18 years and older
Without risk factors	Not eligible	Not eligible	Single primary dose recommended
With risk factors*	Eligible for 2 primary doses and eligible for third primary dose	Eligible for a single primary dose	Single primary dose recommended
With severe immunocompromise	Recommended 2 primary doses and eligible for a third dose	Recommended 2 primary doses and eligible for a third dose	Recommended 2 primary doses and eligible for a third dose

*Includes those with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe Covid-19 illness

For more information, please see https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/covid-19-vaccines

Flu vaccination

We encourage people to book in for a Flu vaccine at this time, which can be done by calling Northside Clinic on (03) 9485 7700 or via AutoMed by clicking the following link:

Yearly influenza vaccination is recommended for people aged 6 months and over.

The influenza vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months or over
Children aged 6 months to under 5 years
Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy
People aged 65 years or over
People aged 6 months or over who have medical conditions that mean they have a higher risk of getting serious disease:
- cardiac disease
- chronic respiratory conditions
- chronic neurological conditions
- immunocompromising conditions
- diabetes and other metabolic disorders
- renal disease
- haematological disorders
- children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy.

Children under 9 years receiving their influenza vaccination for the first time require two doses of vaccine, spaced by a minimum of one month.

Anyone who is not eligible for a free vaccine but who wants to protect themselves against influenza can be vaccinated with a private Flu vaccine. The fee for private Flu vaccines is $20.

Flu vaccines can be given on the same day as any COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information, please see:

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/fighting-flu-starts-with-you-consumer-fact-sheet.pdf

https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/vaccines/influenza-flu-vaccine

MPox vaccination

Updated 17 July 2024

Mpox (monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with the mpox virus.
Since May 2022, there has been a multi-country outbreak of mpox which has mostly impacted men who have sex with men.
In Victoria, the risk of local transmission linked to international travel remains.
Mpox can be spread from person-to-person through skin-to-skin contact, contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, and respiratory droplets.
Symptoms can include a rash, fever, chills, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat and exhaustion. Proctitis or urethritis can also occur.
Vaccination can protect against mpox and is available for eligible people.
An increased supply of mpox vaccines is now available in Victoria and vaccination eligibility criteria have been expanded.
Vaccination is available free-of-charge for eligible people through certain sexual health clinics and select health services.

Vaccination
In Victoria, the mpox vaccine (JYNNEOS® vaccine) is available free-of-charge for eligible people who meet any of the following criteria.

Eligibility Criteria please refer to https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-alerts/increased-local-transmission-mpox-victoria-changes-mpox-vaccine-eligibility-criteria

Post-exposure preventive vaccination (PEPV): for high-risk close contacts of mpox cases, preferably within 4 days.

Two doses are required for optimal protection and are provided subcutaneously 28 days apart. The mpox vaccine takes approximately 14 days before it is effective.

How to access the vaccine
Mpox vaccines are available through certain sexual health clinics, and select health services.

Please note:
We are only able to vaccinate existing Northside Clinic patients. If you have never attended Northside Clinic, we are unable to offer you vaccination.
For alternative vaccination centres, please see https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mpox-immunisation-providers.

APPOINTMENT/FEE

If you are eligible and are an existing patient of Northside Clinic, please contact our reception team on 03 9485 7700 to book your appointment.

If you hold a valid Medicare Card, your appointment will be Bulk Billed and the vaccine is being made available free of charge by the Federal Government. So you will not need to pay anything for the vaccination. For international visitors with no Medicare Card there will be a fee for the consultation.

INFORMATION SHEET

If you will be attending Northside Clinic for a Mpox vaccination, please read the information sheet.

You will be asked to sign a consent form at the time of your vaccination.

For more information, please see: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/mpox-monkeypox