The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition 2013

Note: Please discuss this information or any questions you have about
vaccination with your doctor/nurse before the vaccines are given.
Before any vaccination takes place, your doctor/nurse should ask you:
Did you understand the information provided to you about vaccination?
Do you need more information to decide whether to proceed?
Did you bring your/your child’s vaccination record card with you?
It is important for you to receive a personal record of your or your child’s
vaccinations. If you do not have a record, ask your doctor/nurse to give
you one. Bring this record with you every time you or your child visit for
vaccination. Make sure your doctor/nurse records all vaccinations on it.
Conditions or circumstances identified using the pre-vaccination
screening checklist
The recommended responses for immunisation service providers to make if any
conditions or circumstances are identified by using the pre-screening checklist
are summarised in Table 2.1.2.
Note: Only vaccines recommended on the NIP schedule are included in Table
2.1.2. For information on other vaccines, refer to the relevant disease-specific
chapter in Part 4 of this Handbook or to vaccine product information.
For reference, Table 2.1.3 provides a list of live attenuated vaccines.
Table 2.1.2: Responses to relevant conditions or circumstances identified
through the pre-vaccination screening checklist
Condition or
circumstance of person
to be vaccinated
Is unwell today:
• acute febrile illness
(current T ≥38.5°C)
• acute systemic
illness
Action Rationale 13-15
Defer all vaccines until
afebrile.
Note: Children with minor
illnesses (without acute
systemic symptoms/signs)
should be vaccinated.
To avoid an adverse event
in an already unwell child,
or to avoid attributing
symptoms to vaccination
PART 2 VACCINATION PROCEDURES 31
2.1 PRE-VACCINATION