Vaccinations
The full National Immunisation Schedule Card (125kb PDF).
Childhood Immunisation
The immunisation schedule for children undergoes frequent minor changes, as new vaccines become available and as further government funding of vaccines becomes available. All vaccines are available on site at Hunters Hill Medical Practice.
- Chickenpox vaccine due at 18 months - free
- Pneumococcal vaccine. The pneumococcus bacterium is one of the commonest causes of middle ear infection, pneumonia and meningitis in children. This vaccine covers many strains of pneumococcus and is now free for 2,4 and 6 month old babies
- Meningococcal C vaccine is available free for children aged 1 to 5 years and many adolescents would have received a shot at school this year. This vaccine is highly recommended for all children and young adults under the age of 25
- Boostrix. Another new vaccine recommended for all young adults is a whooping cough booster combined with tetanus and diphtheria booster (Boostrix). The majority of cases of childhood pertussis (whooping cough) are contracted from an infected adult relative or friend. To combat the problem of the low level of adult immunity to pertussis a shot of Boostrix at age 15 years is recommended.
- Hepatitis A and B. We also recommend that all children be vaccinated against Hepatitis B before adolescence. Hepatitis B is highly infectious and is transmitted by contact with infected blood, saliva or sex. Hepatitis B vaccination has been included in the infant immunisation schedule since May 2000. If your child was immunised prior to this date, a course of 3 Hepatitis B shots over a 6 month period is suggested.
- Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine. This vaccine will prevent up to 70% of cases of cervical cancer.
Travel Vaccinations
To find out more about healthy travel, vaccinations and health alerts visit smartraveller.gov.au. You will also find information on travelling with Medicine and how to get help overseas.
Hunters Hill Medical Practice holds a comprehensive stock of travel vaccines. These include:
- Adult diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio;
- Measles, mumps and rubella;
- Both hepatitis A & B individually or combined (Twinrix). These vaccines are available in different strengths for children and adults;
- Typhoid;
- Mencevax provides short term protection against various strains of meningococcal disease;
- Yellow Fever;
- Cholera.
Please make an appointment with your doctor at least a month prior to your departure to any tropical or third world country. This will allow enough time to plan an appropriate vaccine schedule as well as provide advice about avoiding malaria, cholera and common sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
