Immunisation and Vaccination

The terms are similar, but don’t mean the same thing.

Vaccination is the term used for getting a vaccine (such as getting injected with the vaccine or taking the vaccine dose orally) whereas immunisation is where you get your vaccine and become immune to the disease after being vaccinated¹.

¹Healthdirect, Immunisation or Vaccination: What’s the difference?, accessed 31 January 2023

A vaccine works by producing an immune response in your body without causing an illness. This means that when you get a vaccination, your immune system responds to weakened illnesses to create antibodies that protect you against future infections.

This also means that if you get a virus in the future, your immune system will be able to rapidly produce antibodies to destroy it, and you are protected from the more dangerous effects of the infection. You also recover faster if you’re vaccinated from the disease¹.

¹Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, About Immunisation, accessed 23 January 2023.

All vaccines that are given in Australia are tested carefully to make sure they are safe and effective, as it can take many years to develop and gain approval for a new vaccine.

However, increased resources and funding, as well as clinical trials worldwide, can fast-track the development of a vaccine, which is what happened with COVID-19 vaccinations¹.

Every vaccine in Australia must also pass three trial phases before the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) can register it for use. You can find more information about it here.

¹Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Vaccine Safety, accessed 23 January 2023.

You can experience some side effects after you’ve been vaccinated. Some reactions include:

• Pain, redness, itching or swelling where the needle was given
• Mild fever¹

These side effects are generally mild and last for around one to two days.

You can manage these side effects by resting, drinking fluids and more.

However, you may get a serious reaction after your vaccination, which is why our Pharmacists require you to wait 15 minutes after receiving a vaccination before you leave the pharmacy. This is so we can monitor your reaction to the vaccination and help you recover if required.

If you want to find out what type of reactions you may get after your vaccination, you can find more information here.

¹Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Vaccines, accessed 23 January 2023

There are generally very few people who cannot have vaccines, including:

• People who have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine
• People who have serious allergic reactions to ingredients in the vaccine
• People with weakened immune systems who may not be able to fight off the infection

If you’re not sure if you can be vaccinated, please check with your doctor before booking a vaccine¹.

¹NHS, Why Vaccination Is Safe And Important, accessed 23 January 2023

There are a range of things you can do before your vaccination appointment, including:

• Understanding what the vaccine you are receiving is and how it works. Write down any questions you may have and bring them to your appointment.

• Contacting your local Blooms The Chemist to confirm the best time for you to come in for your vaccination. Once you book you will be asked to complete a pre-immunisation screening and consent form which will identify if you are eligible for your vaccination.

• Wearing a t-shirt or sleeveless shirt on the day of your vaccination, as it allows easy access for the Pharmacist or Nurse to vaccinate the upper area of your arm.

• Arriving five minutes before your appointment so the Pharmacist or Nurse can prepare for your vaccine.
  
  

Note: If you are feeling unwell on the day of your vaccination, give your Blooms The Chemist store a call so the Pharmacist can determine if you need to defer your vaccine.

A qualified, trained Pharmacist or Nurse will be providing you with your vaccination.

During your appointment, a Pharmacist or Nurse will welcome you into the vaccinating area. You will take a seat and the Pharmacist or Nurse will go through your pre-immunisation checklist and consent form to ensure the vaccination is safe for you.

They will then administer your vaccination. This appointment should only take a couple of minutes.

After your vaccination, the Pharmacist or Nurse will provide you with information regarding your vaccination including which arm you had the vaccination in and the batch number of the vaccine. A record of your vaccination will be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register.

The Pharmacist or Nurse will ask you to wait in a specific observation area of the pharmacy for 15 minutes following the vaccination.

One of our trained pharmacy staff will be monitoring you for any adverse events following your vaccination. If you feel unwell, please inform the staff member immediately.

After you’ve received your vaccination, you may experience some of the symptoms below which can happen around the injection site of the vaccine, including:

• Pain, redness or swelling where you were injected with the needle
• Mild fever
• Headache or flu like symptoms¹

These reactions only last a couple of days.

Serious reactions are rare, but get medical attention immediately if you’re experiencing some of the symptoms below:

• Anaphylaxis
• Seizure¹

¹Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Possible Side Effects of Vaccination, accessed 23 January 2023

The cost of each vaccination varies across our Pharmacies nationwide. Please call your local Blooms The Chemist for prices.

Some vaccinations we offer are covered by the National Immunisation Program (NIP). 

The NIP offers essential vaccines to eligible people, including:

• Infants and children
• Adolescents
• Pregnant women
• Adult and seniors
• First Nations People
• People with certain medical condition that puts them at greater risk of certain disease¹

Some vaccinations that are covered under the NIP depend on your age group. More information can be found here.

¹Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, National Immunisation Program, accessed 23 January 2023

For more information on immunisation and vaccination, visit:

• Australian Immunisation Handbook 

• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention – Vaccines: The Basics

• National Immunisation Program

If you want to know more about your specific State or Territory, look for your state below:

• ACT

• NT

• NSW

• QLD 

• TAS

• VIC

• WA