Immunisation requirements

Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Documented evidence of 1 adult dose of diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis vaccine (dTpa). Vaccination with ADT is not accepted.

You must consent and agree to further vaccinations every 10 years from your last adult dTpa vaccination.

Hepatitis B (HBV)

Any of the following

• Documented evidence of completed age-appropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccinations (not accelerated course) and documented serology results indicating anti-HBs greater than or equal to 10mlU/ml
• Documented evidence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc/HBcAb), indicating past Hepatitis B infection.

Non-responder requirements

If you’re a persistent non-responder you will need all of the following:

• Documented completed age-appropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccinations
• 1 booster dose (usually a 4^th dose)
• Documented serology results more than 4 weeks post-booster indicating anti-HBs less than 10mIU/ml.

It is strongly recommended to complete the full secondary 3 dose course of vaccinations (a 5th and 6th dose), followed by serology at least 4 weeks later. If still a non-responder, consider an appointment with Queensland Adult Specialist Immunisation Service (QASIS) to discuss intra-dermal inoculation.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

Any of the following

• Documented evidence of 2 doses of MMR vaccine at least 1 month apart
• Positive IgG for measles, mumps and rubella
• Birth date before 1966.

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Any of the following:

• Documented evidence of 2 doses of Varicella vaccine at least 1 month apart
• Positive IgG for varicella
• History of Chicken Pox or physician diagnosed shingles (serology if uncertain).

Influenza

Influenza vaccinations are not currently mandated.

From time to time, there may be a Queensland Health directive that all persons entering a Registered Aged Care Facility must be immunised against the current influenza strains.

Acceptable evidence includes

• A current influenza vaccination certificate from the Australian immunisation Register (AIR) for the specified year
• Australian Immunisation Register Medical Exemption Form completed by a GP, providing an exemption based on the absolute contraindications to influenza vaccine as per the Australian Immunisation Handbook, specifically anaphylaxis after
  • a previous dose of any influenza vaccine
  • any component of an influenza vaccine.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) will be required only if you

• have had direct contact with a person who has had active TB or
• were born in a country with a high incidence of TB, or resided for a cumulative time of 3 months or longer in a country with a high incidence of TB. Please see High risk countries on the Queensland Health website for more information.