Immunisation

• Please complete the immunisation checklist through Vitavo.
• Bring your child’s green health records book and your Medicare card if you have one.
• If you or your child is unwell, do not attend any session. You can manage your booking and change to another date through Vitavo.
• Arrive 15 minutes prior to your session end time to allow for administrative processing and vaccination.
• Please bring your child or children that require immunisation. Bring along any toys or items that might distract them when they get vaccinated.
• Please attend the session on time, if you are late, you might be asked to wait until other clients are immunised.
• It is recommended you stay 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine to ensure you or your child leaves in good health.

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

Funded immunisations for infants and children 

The following immunisations are funded for people who have or are eligible for a Medicare card as part of the National Immunisation Program.

• 6 to 8 weeks: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, rotavirus
• 4 months: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, rotavirus
• 6 months: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, haemophilus influenza B, hepatitis B
• 12 months: measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal ACWY, pneumococcal
• 18 months: varicella (chickenpox), measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), haemophilus influenza B
• 4 years: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio

No Jab, No Play

The Victorian Government's 'No Jab, No Play' legislation came into effect in January 2016. This legislation aims to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases through increased immunisation rates in the community.

All parents and guardians wanting to enrol their child in an early childhood service in Victoria (including kindergarten) must provide evidence that the child is up-to-date with immunisations for their age or has an immunisation catch-up schedule or medical condition preventing them from being fully vaccinated. When enrolling your child for primary school or early childhood education in Victoria, it’s a legal requirement to provide an immunisation certificate. Conscientious objection is not an exemption under the law.

Only parents of children who are fully immunised, or are on a recognised catch-up schedule, can receive the childcare benefit, the childcare rebate and the family benefit.

To access your child’s immunisation certificate: 

• Use the Express Plus Medicare mobile app 
• Log in to your Medicare online account through myGov. 

For more information No Jab No Play - information for parents

Each year, the City of Greater Bendigo delivers the secondary school immunisation program in accordance with the National Immunisation Program to high school students in year 7 and 10 across the municipality.

Vaccines on the National Immunisation Program are all free. These vaccines are given to this age group as it is when the vaccines are most effective and will provide protection before possible exposure to disease.

Year 7s are vaccinated with:

• Gardasil – Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – single dose
• Boostrix – Diphtheria-Tetanus-Whooping Cough – single dose

Year 10s are vaccinated with:

• MenQuadfi – Meningococcal ACWY – single dose

Vaccination apprehension from your child

If your child has questions or is reluctant about getting vaccinated, the Cancer Council Victoria video HPV vaccination for teenagers may be helpful.

Missed vaccinations

If a child was absent on their immunisation day or doesn’t attend mainstream school, there are several options to get them up to date with their vaccinations.

• Contact The City of Greater Bendigo Immunisation team to organise an appointment at a Community Immunisation session. These are run frequently across the municipality. Log onto Vitavo to view available sessions, locations, dates and times, then follow the prompts to book via the online form.
• Contact your GP to make a vaccination appointment. Please inform the GP of the required vaccines your child requires as not all doctors surgeries have vaccines on site. Please note that whilst these vaccines are free, you may incur a fee for the appointment.

If you have further questions regarding making appointments or to check your child is up to date with their immunisations. Please contact us via [email protected] or call 0428 149 077.

Schools we visit

• Bendigo Flexible Learning Options
• Bendigo Special Developmental School
• Bendigo South East Secondary College
• Bendigo Tafe
• Catherine McAuley College
• Creek Street Christian College
• Crusoe College
• Doxa School
• Eaglehawk Secondary College
• Girton Grammar
• Kalianna School
• Marist College
• One School
• Victory Christian College
• Weeroona College

Consent for secondary school immunisations

As of 2023, consent is now gained online via Vitavo. Your secondary school will forward a link for booking and consent prior to immunisation day.

Vaccines play an important role in keeping us healthy, and many adults are not vaccinated as recommended. Preventable diseases cause many adults to get sick, leading to missed work, not being able to care for those who depend on them and passing the illness on to others.

We offer free funded immunisations at our regular community immunisation sessions.

Funded immunisations

The following immunisations are funded for eligible people as part of the National Immunisation Program. · Eligible people under 20 years: free routine and catch-up vaccines under the National Immunisation Program.

• Eligible people aged 20 to under 26 years: free HPV vaccination for anyone who missed their school vaccination.
• Pregnant women: free Whooping cough vaccine from 20 weeks, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine from 28 to 36 weeks and influenza immunisation.
• Refugees, humanitarian entrants and vulnerable people: free routine and catch-up vaccines under the National Immunisation Program.
• All adults 65 years and over can receive funded shingles and influenza vaccines.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus vaccine

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

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a serious mosquito-borne disease that can cause inflammation of the brain and lead to long-term neurological complications or death. Vaccination is recommended for individuals living or working in high-risk areas, including parts of Victoria, and for those with occupational exposure such as piggery workers or mosquito surveillance staff.

Two vaccines are available in Australia: Imojev (a live vaccine) and JEspect (an inactivated vaccine). Eligibility for free vaccination may depend on your location, occupation, or risk of exposure.

To book a JEV vaccination, please contact the Immunisation Team directly. Eligibility will be assessed based on current public health guidelines.

More information on Japanese encephalitis

Shingrix (shingles) vaccine

We have adequate stock of Shingrix vaccinations.

A two-dose course of Shingrix is available free for all eligible people:

• All adults aged 65 years or older.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 years or older.
• Selected groups aged 18 years or older who are severely immunocompromised.
• Two doses of Shingrix are required for an adequate level and duration of protection.
• The gap between doses should be 2 to 6 months.

For immunocompromised people, the gap should be one to two months between doses.

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 community immunisation session.

If your family is new to Bendigo from overseas, your child’s vaccinations may need to be updated to meet Australian school and childcare requirements. Please use the following form:

Families arriving from overseas - immunisation form

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.