Immunisation and Infection Risk

Clayton and Bendigo MBBS students

First year MBBS students at Clayton will be in contact with general practice clinics and other community medical centres from early in their first year. Immunisation status must be up to date in readiness for these placements. Updating can take several months so it is important to be prepared for your initial appointment with the University Health Services immunisation team at the start of Semester One.

1.  Read the faculty’s Student Immunisation and Infection Risk policy carefully:

2. Obtain personal immunisation records to be checked against the National Immunisation Program Schedule (link to http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/) list. Note that over time the Immunisation Schedule has changed and may now include and recommend vaccines not previously available.

Personal records may be found via:

• Parents/guardian (e.g. immunisation book or card)
• Local government council or shire where vaccinations were administered – ask for a printed record of immunisation (some councils/shires charge a small fee)
• School records
• Personal Medical Practitioners (if this is where you had your immunisations)

3. Read the faculty’s Immunisation and Infection Risk Management Plan

4. Three forms must be completed and returned to MBBS Student Services reception. Please down load these and get started on them as soon as possible.

• Student Vaccination and Infectious Disease Questionnaire
• University Health Service Patient Registration Form
• Review of Immunisation Status Procedures

5. Attend an immunisation appointment with a qualified medical practitioner (who is not a relative). Note: You are strongly advised to attend the University Health Service (UHS) for your immunisation appointments. MBBS Student Services will organise this for you early in Semester One. The UHS is free to students, and vaccines will be provided at a discounted rate.  Students seeing their own doctor must notify reception in Building 15 and follow the procedures provided.

The purpose of this appointment is to:

(i)             review and update his/her immunisation status (see Victorian Dept of Human Services Guidelines of October 2007) including arranging of Mantoux or QuantiFERON TB Gold testing and follow up and testing for HIV, Hep A, B and C;

(ii)            discuss blood-borne viruses that may be transmitted in the course of normal duties between health care workers and patients and follow through with appropriate testing;

(iii)           discuss the implications for the student and subsequently as a doctor, should he/she be a carrier of a particular blood-borne virus;

(iv)          discuss any risk factors he/she might have for blood-borne viral infections outside of normal student duties, and how these risks may be minimised.

6. When all appointments and testing have been completed, the Student Declaration form must be signed and returned with the Vaccination Statement to MBBS Student Services, Building 15, Clayton Campus.

7. Students who elect to see their own medical practitioner MUST have the Confirmation of Consultation form and a Vaccination Statement completed and returned.