Immunisation

Book an immunisation appointment

Wellington Shire Council provides all people working and residing within the municipality with a funded immunisation program in line with the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

This program consists of monthly community immunisation sessions in Sale, Maffra, Heyfield and Yarram along with a secondary school-based immunisation program. Appointments are recommended, please phone 1300 366 244 or book online through the Victorian Department of Health Central Immunisation Record portal. To sign up to the portal you will need an email address and medicare card.

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Annual Influenza Vaccination

Annual influenza vaccinations are available at the Wellington Shire Council Community Immunisation Sessions between the months of May to December. If you require the influenza vaccination between January and April, please contact our Environmental Health Team on 1300 366 244 to determine if stock is available.

The following people are eligible to receive a free seasonal influenza vaccine:

• People aged six months to less than five years.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older.
• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy).
• People aged 65 years and older.
• People aged six months and older with medical conditions putting them at increased risk of severe influenza and its complications, comprising those with cardiac disease; chronic respiratory conditions; chronic neurological conditions; immunocompromising conditions; diabetes and other metabolic disorders; renal disease; haematological disorders.
• Children aged six months to 10 years on long-term aspirin therapy.
• Children under nine years receiving their influenza vaccination for the first time require two doses of vaccine, spaced by a minimum of one month.

Those ineligible for a free influenza vaccine can purchase the influenza vaccine at our community immunisation sessions for a fee of $25.00. Payment can be made on the day of the event via cash or EFTPOS. Please note that we are unable to provide change for cash payments, so we kindly request that you bring the exact amount.

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COVID-19 Vaccine

Wellington Shire Council is NOT providing the COVID-19 vaccine. To check your eligibility and determine where you can receive your vaccine please check your eligibility on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

When do you need to get another COVID-19 vaccine?

If it has been 6 months since receiving a COVID-19 vaccine or a confirmed COVID-19 infection, an additional dose is recommended. Older age continues to be the biggest risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease, so keeping up to date with vaccines is particularly important for people aged 65+ and anyone with severe immunocompromise.

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Attending Wellington Shire Council Vaccination Sessions

It is vital that you follow the following steps:

• Do not attend if you or your child have symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath or cough).
• Do not attend if you or your children are subject to a self-isolation requirement.
• Use hand sanitiser provided at the entrance to the reception and waiting area.
• It is everyone's responsibility to maintain physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from the nearest person.
• Some sessions may require wait periods to be held outside the venue, so please dress appropriately for the weather.
• Wear a loose-fitting top that will allow the nurses to view the entire upper arm without constriction of the deltoid muscle.

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Tips for parents on vaccination day

Dress your child in comfortable clothing that allows easy access to arms and legs.

• Children under 12 months of age receive vaccinations in the anterolateral thigh (upper leg), children between 12 and 18 months may require access to this limb depending on number of vaccinations to be administered.

Bring your child health book and your Medicare card.

• A record of immunisation will be stamped in your book and reported to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Prophylactic paracetamol prior to vaccinations is not routinely recommended.

• If paracetamol is required before vaccine administration, you will be phoned by a member of the Immunisation Team to discuss.

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Pandemic Influenza

An Influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges and spreads around the world, infecting a large proportion of the human population.

Useful information and resources are available from the Health Victoria website or the Wellington Municipal Pandemic Influenza Plan.

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Council Immunisation Schedule