Rochedale Family Practice
Vaccination: before and after your appointment
Practical information to help you prepare for a vaccination and know what to expect afterwards.
Your clinician will provide advice specific to the vaccine you receive. That advice takes priority over this general guide.
What to bring
- Medicare card or other details required by the practice.
- The child's health record where relevant.
- Previous vaccination records if they may not appear in the Australian Immunisation Register.
- A current medication and allergy list.
- Details of previous significant vaccine reactions.
- Any questions you have about the vaccine.
Before vaccination
- Wear clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm or appropriate injection site.
- Tell the clinician if the person being vaccinated is unwell, has a fever or has had a recent significant illness.
- Mention pregnancy, possible pregnancy, immune-suppressing conditions or immune-suppressing treatment.
- Mention previous fainting with needles or injections.
- Eat, drink and take usual medicines according to your normal routine unless individually instructed otherwise.
Common expected effects
Many people have no significant problem. Mild short-term effects can include:
- Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site.
- Mild fever.
- Headache.
- Tiredness.
- Muscle aches.
- Irritability or unsettled behaviour in children.
General comfort measures
- Rest if needed and maintain usual fluids.
- Use a cool, damp cloth for injection-site discomfort if helpful.
- Avoid rubbing or repeatedly pressing the injection site.
- Follow vaccine-specific instructions provided at the appointment.
- Use medicines only according to individual advice and labelled directions.
Contact the practice
- Unexpected, significant or prolonged symptoms.
- Fever or symptoms that are worsening rather than improving.
- Increasing injection-site redness, swelling or pain.
- A significant rash.
- Persistent vomiting or difficulty maintaining fluids.
- A child who is unusually drowsy, difficult to settle or concerning to the parent or carer.
Call 000
Call 000 immediately for severe difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, collapse or loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, a seizure, or another severe or rapidly worsening reaction.
Rochedale Family Practice is not an emergency service.
Vaccination record
- Vaccinations administered by the practice are recorded according to applicable clinical and reporting requirements.
- You may be able to view your Australian Immunisation Register history through Medicare-linked services.
- Contact the practice if a recent vaccination appears to be missing or incorrect.
Vaccination:before and after your appointment
Practical information to help you prepare for a vaccination and know what to expect afterwards.
For adults, children and carers attending Rochedale Family Practice for routine vaccination, including influenza, COVID-19, shingles, pneumococcal, whooping cough or other vaccines provided by the practice.
Your clinician will provide advice specific to the vaccine you receive. That advice takes priority over this general guide.
Key Actions
At a glance
- Confirm the correct appointment type, vaccine availability and any cost before attending.
- Tell the practice about previous serious vaccine reactions or relevant medical history.
- Bring vaccination records if they may not appear in the Australian Immunisation Register.
- Follow the vaccine-specific advice provided by your clinician.
Before booking
Vaccine eligibility, timing, funding, availability and cost can vary. Some vaccines also require an appointment involving both a nurse and GP. Please confirm the best appointment type, availability and any cost before attending.
Tell the practice if you have previously had a serious reaction to a vaccine. Pregnancy, possible pregnancy, immune-suppressing conditions or treatment, current illness and relevant medical history may affect vaccine recommendations. Your clinician will determine whether vaccination is appropriate for you or your child.
Care
What to bring
- Medicare card or other details required by the practice.
- The child's health record where relevant.
- Previous vaccination records if they may not appear in the Australian Immunisation Register.
- A current medication and allergy list.
- Details of previous significant vaccine reactions.
- Any questions you have about the vaccine.
Before the vaccination
- Wear clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm or appropriate injection site.
- Tell the clinician if the person being vaccinated is unwell, has a fever or has had a recent significant illness.
- Mention pregnancy, possible pregnancy, immune-suppressing conditions or immune-suppressing treatment.
- Mention previous fainting with needles or injections.
- Eat, drink and take usual medicines according to your normal routine unless individually instructed otherwise.
Activity
During the appointment
- The clinician confirms consent, relevant medical history and the vaccine being given.
- The vaccine may be given by injection, orally or by another approved route depending on the vaccine.
- Tell staff if you feel faint, anxious or unwell.
- You may be asked to remain at the practice for observation for a period determined by the clinician and vaccine protocol.
- Parents and carers should follow staff advice for safely holding or comforting children.
Common effects
- Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site.
- Mild fever.
- Headache.
- Tiredness.
- Muscle aches.
- Irritability or unsettled behaviour in children.
Before the vaccination
Wear clothing that allows easy access to the upper arm or the appropriate injection site. Tell the clinician if the person being vaccinated is unwell, has a fever, has had a recent significant illness, is pregnant or may be pregnant, has immune-suppressing conditions or treatment, or has fainted with needles before.
Eat, drink and take usual medicines according to your normal routine unless your clinician has given different instructions.
During the appointment
The clinician will confirm consent, relevant medical history and the vaccine being given. Depending on the vaccine, it may be given by injection, orally or by another approved route.
Tell staff if you feel faint, anxious or unwell. You may be asked to remain at the practice for observation for a period determined by the clinician and vaccine protocol. Parents and carers should follow staff advice for safely holding or comforting children.
Common effects afterwards
Many people have no significant problem after vaccination, but mild short-term effects can occur. Timing and expected effects differ between vaccines, and symptoms after vaccination are not always caused by the vaccine.
Common effects may include pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches, or irritability and unsettled behaviour in children. Seek advice if symptoms are severe, unexpected, worsening or prolonged.
Looking after yourself or your child
Rest if needed, maintain usual fluids and follow vaccine-specific instructions provided at the appointment. A cool, damp cloth may help injection-site discomfort. Avoid rubbing or repeatedly pressing the injection site.
Ask a GP, pharmacist or nurse about suitable pain or fever relief if you are uncertain. Use medicines only according to individual advice and labelled directions.
Vaccine-specific information
Expected effects and important precautions differ between vaccines. For vaccine-specific details, use the authoritative links below or ask your clinician at the appointment.
Contact
When to contact the practice
Contact the practice or seek medical advice
- Unexpected, significant or prolonged symptoms.
- Fever or symptoms that are worsening rather than improving.
- Increasing injection-site redness, swelling or pain.
- A significant rash.
- Persistent vomiting or difficulty maintaining fluids.
- A child who is unusually drowsy, difficult to settle or concerning to the parent or carer.
- Any possible reaction you are unsure about.
Follow-Up
Vaccination record
- Vaccinations administered by the practice are recorded according to applicable clinical and reporting requirements.
- You may be able to view your Australian Immunisation Register history through Medicare-linked services.
- Contact the practice if a recent vaccination appears to be missing or incorrect.
Vaccine-specific information
- Expected effects and important precautions differ between vaccines.
- Use authoritative vaccine-specific information or ask your clinician if you are unsure.
Next Actions
Next steps
Related
Related patient information
Care at Rochedale
Related care at Rochedale Family Practice
News
Related News & Updates
External Resources
Authoritative links
- After vaccination opens in a new tabAustralian Immunisation Handbook
Clinical guidance on after-care, observation, documenting vaccination and adverse events.
- Common side effects following immunisation opens in a new tabAustralian Immunisation Handbook
Australian table of common side effects for vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program.
- Following vaccination - what to expect and what to do opens in a new tabAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Patient information about common reactions, home care, when to seek advice and reporting reactions.
- Immunisation side effects opens in a new tabHealthdirect Australia
Australian patient information on common side effects, self-care and when to seek urgent care.
- Adverse events following immunisation opens in a new tabQueensland Health
Queensland guidance for adverse events following immunisation and reporting pathways.