Victoria
Specialist immunisation services provide specialised immunisation advice to healthcare professionals. These services have specialised nursing and medical staff to provide clinical advice on immunisation for children with complex or unusual medical backgrounds or who have had an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI). They can support children who have previously been affected by an AEFI by assessing and planning for immunisation and are able to answer complex questions and concerns relevant to an individual’s experience and circumstances.
In Victoria, the relevant services are the Royal Children’s Hospital Specialist Immunisation Clinic (RCH SIC) and the Monash Health Immunisation Service (all ages).
Information
The Royal Children’s Hospital Specialist Immunisation Clinic (RCH SIC)
Address:
The Royal Children’s Hospital
50 Flemington Rd
Parkville Victoria 3052
Phone: 1300 882 924 (select Option 3 and your call will be redirected)
Fax: 03 9345 5034
Email: immunisation.centre@rch.org.au
Monash Health Immunisation Service
Address:
Monash Medical Centre, Clayton
Level 2, Main Building
246 Clayton Road
Clayton VIC 3168
Note, turn right when entering the front doors of the hospital. The service is located within the Jessie McPherson Private Hospital (Suite I).
Phone: 03 9594 6320
Fax: 03 95 94 6325
Email: immunisation@monashhealth.org
RCH SIC
- The specialist clinic operates every Tuesday morning.
- It has five immunisation specialist paediatricians and nurse practitioners and also provides telehealth services.
- More information is available on the website of the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Monash Health Immunisation Service
- Monash Health Immunisation service operates Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm (no weekends or public holidays).
- The service runs a high-risk immunisation service for all ages. Paediatric immunisation physicians are available for expert advice and liaison with medical and surgical specialties.
- More information is available on the Monash Health website.
RCH SIC
- Complex medical conditions or impaired immunity (for example, undergoing chemotherapy).
- History of AEFI/s.
- Child is at risk of an AEFI.
- Under-immunised child requiring a complex catch-up schedule.
- Needle-phobia where strategies for immunisation in primary care have failed.
- Parents seeking modified vaccination schedule due to concerns about immunisation.
- Complex or extensive concerns about immunisation that cannot be addressed in primary care.
Monash Health Immunisation Service
- Children with chronic health conditions.
- High-risk/special-risk groups including:
- Oncology patients
- Renal patients
- Diabetes
- Respiratory and cardiac patients
- Transplant patients
- Hyposplenic and asplenic patients.
RCH SIC
- Up-to-date detailed information and scientific literature on immunisation.
- Extended consultations with immunisation specialists (paediatricians and/or nurse practitioners) to discuss concerns about immunisation.
- Online video-conferencing or telephone consultations for parents outside the Melbourne metro area.
- Follow-up consultations as required.
- Tailored catch-up schedule for under-immunised children.
- Specialist support for children with special needs or needle-phobia.
- Vaccination under sedation (subject to medical evaluation).
- Supervised vaccination for children with complex medical conditions, for example, children who are immunosuppressed, receiving chemotherapy, or have a history of anaphylaxis associated with vaccination.
- Advice about modified immunisation schedules.
- Advice about eligibility for medical exemption.
- Bulk-billing for Medicare eligible patients.
Monash Health Immunisation Service
- Assistance with complex immunisation issues.
- Catch up immunisation plan advice.
- Immunisation Adverse Event management.
- Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination clinic for children with a GP referral.
RCH SIC
- Discuss the purpose of RCH SIC consultation, and the expertise of the medical staff, and offer referral if appropriate.
- Call 1300 882 924 (option 3) to contact the Specialist Immunisation Clinics (Adults and Paediatrics).
- Referrals can be sent directly to fax number 03 9345 5034.
Monash Health Immunisation Service
- Most patients do not need a medical referral to receive a National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule vaccine.
- Children requiring a medical consultation before vaccination due to complex immunisation needs do need a referral from a doctor.
- Requests for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB), require a GP referral, submitted via HealthLink, including:
- patient details including date of birth
- address and contact mobile number
- Medicare card number including Ref No.
- estimated date of travel.
- Child’s Medicare card.
- Child’s Personal Health Record (Green Book).
RCH SIC
- Telephone advisory service runs Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4:30 pm (except public holidays). Call 1300 882 924 and select Option 2 for general advice.
- Email any queries to immunisation.centre@rch.org.au.
- Health professionals can also contact the Victorian Department of Health, Immunisation Unit by emailing immunisation@health.vic.gov.au.
Monash Health
Contact the Immunisation team at Monash Health by calling 03 9594 6320 or emailing immunisation@monashhealth.org.