Managing serious adverse reactions to vaccines
State and Territory information:
Services for people who have experienced a serious adverse event following immunisation have been established in Australia.
The aim of these services is to:
- review people who have had a serious adverse event following immunisation to determine the relationship between vaccination and the event;
- determine whether or not remaining scheduled vaccinations should be administered; and
- provide an environment in which further vaccinations can be given, including:
- close observation;
- information about risk and benefits of vaccination; and
- specialist treatment in the event an adverse event recurs.
Some parents/guardians are reluctant to re-vaccinate children/adolescents after an immunisation adverse event, unless re-vaccination is done under close medical supervision. This may include time in hospital.
Please note: All adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) are notifiable. Providers and the public are encouraged to notify AEFIs to some State and Territory Health Departments, as reports are regularly forwarded to the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC). More information about reporting problems with medicines is available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website or contact your State and Territory Health Department (see telephone numbers below).
Indications for referral to a vaccination serious adverse events service include:
- seizure;
- persistent, inconsolable screaming for 3 or more hours or an unusual distinctive high pitched cry;
- a temperature of 40.5 degrees or more, unexplained by any other cause;
- generalised skin rash within 24 hours;
- hypotonic hypo-responsive episodes;
- apnoea; and
- any other serious event that required hospitalisation or emergency medical review and treatment.
Australian Capital Territory
Communicable Diseases Control Section
ACT Health
Telephone: 02 6205 2155
New South Wales
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)
Telephone: 02 9845 1433
Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick
Telephone: 02 9382 1470
Northern Territory
Centre for Disease Control
NT Department of Health and Community Services
Telephone: 08 8922 8044
Queensland
Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP)
Queensland Health
Telephone: 07 3234 1500
South Australia
South Australian Immunisation Coordination Unit
SA Department of Health
Telephone: 08 8226 7177
Tasmania
Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit
Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services
Telephone: 03 6222 7726
Victoria
Royal Children’s Hospital Immunisation Clinic
Telephone: 03 9345 6599
Department of Human Services, Disease Prevention and Control
Telephone: 1300 882 008
A referral letter from a general practitioner is required to attend the Immunisation Outpatient Clinic for review and discussion.
Western Australia
- For the metropolitan area contact:
Telephone: 08 9340 8222
- For rural and remote areas of WA contact:
A referral letter from a general practitioner is required.
Page last modified: 15 June, 2007