Q Fever Vaccine in Point Cook
Q fever is a bacterial infection people catch from animals, and it is a known risk for anyone who works with livestock, meat or animal products. Our GPs can arrange the Q fever vaccine in Point Cook, starting with the screening tests every person needs first.
What Q fever is
Q fever is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, carried mostly by cattle, sheep and goats but also by kangaroos, cats and dogs. Infected animals shed it in birth fluids, placentas, milk, urine and faeces, and it survives for a long time in dust and soil. People usually catch it by breathing in contaminated dust or droplets.
According to Victoria’s Department of Health, many infections cause mild symptoms or none. Others bring high fever, sweats, severe headache and exhaustion, sometimes with pneumonia or hepatitis. A few people develop a long-lasting infection or months of fatigue.
Who should consider the vaccine
The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends it for people aged 15 and over who are at risk and have not had Q fever or the vaccine before, including:
- Abattoir, meat processing and stockyard workers
- Farmers, shearers and transporters of cattle, sheep, goats, camels or kangaroos
- Veterinarians, veterinary nurses and students
- Dog and cat breeders and animal shelter staff
- Wildlife and zoo workers, and laboratory staff handling animal samples
It is not funded under the National Immunisation Program, so a fee applies.
How Q fever vaccination in Point Cook works
The process takes two visits about a week apart:
- Visit one: the GP takes your history, does a small skin test on the forearm and requests a blood test for Q fever antibodies. Both can be done the same day, and the blood can be collected by the on-site Dorevitch Pathology centre.
- Visit two, after 7 days: the skin test site is checked and the blood result reviewed. If both are negative, you have the vaccine as a single injection under the skin.
A positive result on either test means you have probably met the infection already and should not be vaccinated, because the vaccine can then cause a severe reaction. An unclear result may mean repeating the tests in 2 to 3 weeks.
Q fever immunisation fees
The fees page lists Q fever immunisation at $150 (total fee, before any Medicare rebate). Pathology charges for the antibody test are set by Dorevitch, so check those with the collection centre.
Before you book
Bring any record of a previous Q fever vaccine or past infection. People with proof of either should not be tested or vaccinated again. The vaccine is not routinely recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, is not used in children under 15, and should not be given after anaphylaxis to eggs or a vaccine component.
Mention the Q fever vaccine when you call or book online, so the right appointments can be set up for both visits.
After the vaccine
Tenderness and redness at the injection site are common. Headache, tiredness, joint aches or fever can follow briefly. Occasionally a firm lump appears at the site 1 to 8 months later, and most fade over several months without treatment. Let a GP know about any reaction that worries you.
Common questions
Will I need a booster later?
No. Boosters are not recommended, as immunity appears to last at least 5 years and a repeat dose risks a serious local reaction.
Can my 14-year-old helping on the farm be vaccinated?
Not at this stage. The vaccine is recommended from age 15, as there is no safety or effectiveness data for younger children.
Why did my workplace say I must wait before starting?
Victoria’s health department advises that access to high-risk sites such as abattoirs be restricted to immunised people, and during an outbreak non-immune staff are kept away until 15 days after vaccination. Ask your employer about their rules.
What if I get sick after working with animals?
See a GP and mention your animal contact, as early antibiotic treatment matters. Our immunisation services page lists the other vaccines we give.