Immunisation

We are following the recommended COVID-safe Immunisation Clinic guidelines.

Please wear a mask if you are 12 years or older.

Please observe social distancing of 1.5 metres whilst within the clinic for the safety of everyone.

We are committed to immunising our community and if you are in a situation where you cannot meet the above requirements, please contact us and we are happy to discuss alternative arrangements with you.

Free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza:

• People aged six months to less than five years (can be given at the same time as childhood vaccines)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older
• Pregnant women (can be given at any stage of each pregnancy)
• People aged 65 years and older (a vaccine that is specifically designed to produce a higher immune response is available for this group)
• People aged six months and older with medical conditions putting them at increased risk of severe influenza and its complications

More information available from the Better Health Channel: Flu immunisation page

We provide free immunisation for infants and children in accordance with the National Immunisation Program.

Please bring all documentation related to your child’s previous vaccinations and (if available) your child's green Maternal Health record (My Health Learning & Development Record).

If you have received a letter from the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) informing you that your child is overdue for vaccination, which may affect your payments, please contact either your GP or our immunisation team.

School entry immunisation certificate

Your child must have an immunisation status certificate to enrol in primary school.

School entry immunisation status certificates can only be obtained from:

• The Australian Immunisation Register (formerly known as the Australian Immunisation Childhood Register, ACIR) phone 1800 653 809
• Medicare Australia Office - Online at Services Australia

You will receive a history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) after your child has completed the 4-year-old vaccine. This history statement is used as the school entry immunisation status certificate.

If your child has completed all immunisations but you have not received a history statement call AIR on 1800 653 809 to find out why.

If for some reason your child's immunisation records are incomplete or missing contact AIR or your GP, or contact our immunisation team.

We provide secondary school immunisations in accordance with the National Immunisation Program (NIP). 

Year 7 students are eligible to receive vaccinations against:

• Diphtheria, Whooping Cough (Pertussis) and Tetanus - Boostrix/Adacel
• Human papillomavirus - Gardasil vaccine

Year 10 students are eligible to receive vaccination against:

• Meningococcal ACWY - Nimenrix

Pregnant women

We offer free Whooping Cough vaccination to pregnant mothers from 20 weeks gestation, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine from 28 to 36 weeks and influenza immunisation.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus vaccine

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccines to eligible people residing in Greater Bendigo.

Please note there is a state-wide shortage of JEV vaccine.

Due to a state-wide shortage of JEV vaccine, as per the Department of Health directive, the City of Greater Bendigo is only permitted to administer the Live attenuated vaccine (Imojev).

Imojev is contraindicated in pregnant women and immunocompromised people and is not licensed for use in children under 9 months of age. If you are needing the inactivated vaccine (JEspect) it is only available through your local GP.

More information on Japanese encephalitis

Shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine

The shingles vaccine Shingrix® is only available through your local GP at this stage.

We are awaiting confirmation from the Department of Health as to when it will be available through Local Government immunisation services.

A 2-dose course of Shingrix® will be available free for:

• People aged 65 years and over
• First Nations people aged 50 years and over 
• Immunocompromised people aged 18 years and over with certain medical conditions: 
  • Haemopoietic stem cell transplant
  • Solid organ transplant 
  • Haematological malignancy 
  • Advanced or untreated HIV

Certain exclusions will apply for those that may have had a Zostavax vaccine.

More information on Shingles - Better Health Channel

If you have recently moved to Australia and your child has been vaccinated overseas please contact us before attending our public immunisation session.

Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS) offer a sharp container exchange service, where you can drop off full containers and collect a new empty container for the safe disposal of your sharps.

In central Bendigo this is located at BCHS via the Hopetoun St car park entry – the large yellow bin, after dropping off your full bin please collect a replacement container from inside the BCHS offices which front 165-171 Hargreaves Street during business hours.

In Eaglehawk please drop off in the large yellow bin at the entry to BCHS,  3 Seymoure Street, Eaglehawk and collect a replacement container from reception.

In Heathcote please drop off to Heathcote Health office main entry reception and they will provide a replacement container.  

The City of Greater Bendigo does not accept full containers or provide empty containers.

Unfortunately, at this stage there is no BCG clinic for children in Bendigo. You will need to travel to Melbourne (please see below list of providers):

• The Royal Children’s Hospital: BCG Clinic
• Monash Health Immunisation Service
• Offspring Child Health Specialists
• Family Immunisation & Travel Specialists (FITS)
• A/Prof Mike Starr 
• Craigieburn Specialist Consulting Suites
• Medical One - QV
• Kids Travel Doc
• The Children’s Private Medical Group
• Wyndham Private Medical Centre
• Travel Clinics Australia - Caulfield
• Pinnacle Medical Centre - Williams Landing
• The Travel Doctor - TMVC at Sonic Health Plus CBD clinic
• CBD Doctors Melbourne

All clinics require a GP referral. 

Ideally it would be administered 4-6 weeks prior to travel.