Charlton Medical encourages you to maintain an up-to-date vaccination status for annual vaccines such as influenza, childhood vaccinations such as MMR and Infanrix and travel vaccinations such as typhoid and Hepatitis A. Opportunistic vaccination can be undertaken on an individual basis or you can proactively book a consultation to update or maintain your vaccination status.

If you have any questions relating to vaccination, our doctors are happy to discuss these concerns in greater detail than a normal vaccination clinic would permit. Please note that, generally speaking, medical staff are pro-vaccination but are willing to engage in a healthy discussion concerning the risks and benefits related to vaccination for you and your family.

Annual vaccinations

Vaccination clinics for influenza, pneumonia,COVID-19, and other winter illness generally commence in April each year. Consultations during vaccination clinics are bulk billed and are restricted to the vaccination process – you are not able to request additional services at these clinics. The clinics generally run to time.

Further information about these vaccinations, along with clinic dates, generally becomes available in early March each year.

Childhood vaccinations

Charlton Medical offers all routine childhood vaccinations as part of a normal consultation. There is no charge for most childhood vaccines however there will be a charge for the consultation. All vaccinations are notified to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and should be available within a day of your consultation.

The AIR is a national register of vaccines given to all people in Australia and is administered by Services Australia. AIR also provides an immunisation history statement which can be used as proof of immunisation for childcare and school enrolments and assists parents in claiming the government Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance. If any of your child’s immunisations are missing on the immunisation history statement, please speak to your doctor who will check that the immunisations have given and recorded correctly.

Information on how to obtain a copy of your child’s immunisation statement is available here.

Measles Mumps Rubella vaccinations

Some adults born after 1966 may have missed the Australian Measles Control Campaign conducted in the late 1990s and the Young Adults MMR program in early 2001 and are consequently not immune or are only partially immune to these illnesses.

A Victorian Government funded measles-containing vaccine program is available for adults born during or after 1966 and aged more than 20 who do not have evidence of two documented doses of the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is especially recommended for women planning pregnancy or who have recently delivered a child. Adults who are incompletely vaccinated require two vaccinations at least four weeks apart. Vaccines given as part of this program are free and consultations for vaccination during a scheduled vaccination clinic are bulk-billed.

Whooping cough vaccinations

Free vaccination for pertussis is available for all pregnant women from 20 weeks gestation during every pregnancy regardless of how long it is since your last pregnancy. Partners of pregnant women can also receive a vaccination in the third trimester provided they have not received a pertussis vaccination in the last ten years.

Grandparents are only eligible for free vaccine if they are the child’s primary caregiver or legal guardian, however, grandparents can obtain whooping cough with a private prescription. Please speak to reception about an appointment to obtain a script.

Japanese Encephalitis vaccinations

Japanese encephalitis vaccination is currently available for patients who live or work in local LGAs including Buloke, Loddon, Gannawarra, and Swan Hill  who spend four or more hours in outdoor activities that place them at risk of mosquito bites. Vaccination is also available to patients who work at or visit piggeries including transport workers and family members. Charlton Medical is currently running vaccination clinics for Japanese Encephalitis. Please register your interest with reception if you believe you qualify.  Further information is available here.

Travel vaccinations

Please make an appointment to discuss what vaccinations you may need for your travel well in advance of your departure date. Some illnesses need a course of vaccines which may take several weeks to complete.  You will need a private prescription for most travel vaccines.