Immunisation
Immunisation against certain Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) is a requirement for most clinical programs. Please view your relevant Student Checklist to see if Immunisations are a requirement for your discipline. If required, students must complete the UniSA Immunisation Compliance Form, as well as COVID-19 (3 doses) and Flu Vaccination.
Immunisation guidelines
The SA Health Policy for Health Care Workers Addressing Vaccine-preventable Disease: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination (2022) defines the minimum standards required by SA Health to minimise the risk of transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Please Note: As students may be required to attend a variety of placement venues (SA Health and Private venues), UniSA requires students to become fully compliant with all immunisation requirements, this includes completing the UniSA Immunisation Compliance Form, this ensures students will be accepted by all placement sites.
Immunisation requirements for UniSA placement
UniSA's Immunisation Requirements for Placement package provides details of the required immunisations.
Download Immunisation Form User Guide
Satisfying interstate immunisation requirements
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How do I satisfy interstate immunisation requirements?
In addition to completing the SA Immunisation Compliance Form, students undertaking a placement in another Australian state or territory should comply with the relevant state immunisation policies:
ACT | QLD | NSW | NT | WA | VIC & TAS
Information about venue-specific immunisation requirements is available via InPlace (login required). If you are unsure, please contact the Clinical Placement Unit.
Influenza (Seasonal) and COVID-19 Vaccinations
According to the latest ATAGI Guidelines (March 2024), Influenza (seasonal) and a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccination are highly recommended for people > over 18 years without risk factors.
Please review the information provided on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) website.
Please note that while UniSA follows ATAGI guidelines, some organisations may have their own policy regarding these vaccines that exceed the ATAGI guidelines.
Not providing evidence of influenza (seasonal) and COVID-19 vaccination(s) or in the case where you are allocated to an organisation that requires additional vaccinations, there may be a delay to the release of your placement details as the Clinical Placement Unit (CPU) is required to coordinate with your course coordinator and placement providers to ensure placement sites are able to support your placement with your current vaccination status.
Influenza (seasonal) Immunisation
Flu Vaccination is available through the UniSA Medical Clinics at the City West and City East campuses. Flu vaccinations can be booked online at https://www.unisamedical.com.au, by selecting “Book Online” and then “Book a Flu Shot.”
UniSA Health runs “Flu Clinics” around April each year; during this time, students can receive the flu vaccination free of charge. A fee will be incurred outside of these “Flu Clinic” times. Please contact the UniSA Health Clinic for the Flu Clinic operating dates.
Can I get the flu vaccine at my GP or other health service?
Students can receive the Flu Vaccine from other health services.
Following a vaccination, students receive a certificate of immunisation that includes the details below. Please upload this into InPlace:
- Name of the facility
- Your full name and date of birth
- Name of the vaccine (i.e., Flu Quadri)
- Date of vaccination
- Batch number
- Who administered the vaccination
If you are unable to obtain a certificate at the time of vaccination, you can download your Immunisation History by following the below link: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/australian-immunisation-register/how-get-immunisation-history-statement
What do I do with the Influenza (Flu) Immunisation certificate?
Upload it to InPlace. There is a field labelled ‘Influenza Immunisation Certificate’; upload your evidence to this section. Students may also be required to provide evidence of their Flu Vaccination to the site on the first day of placement.
Where can I get the COVID-19 Vaccination?
COVID-19 vaccinations are available through your local chemist or GP.
What do I do with the COVID-19 Vaccination certificate?
Upload it to InPlace. There is a field labelled ‘COVID-19 Vaccination’ Please upload your vaccination record here. There is a separate field labelled “COVID-19 Vaccination Booster” for students to upload evidence of their Covid Booster. Students may also be required to provide evidence of their COVID-19 Vaccinations to the site on the first day of placement.
Tuberculosis screening
Students must complete the Tuberculosis (TB) SA Health Online Screening Questionnaire as part of completing the Immunisation Compliance Form. The link to the questionnaire can be found on Page 2 of the Immunisation Compliance Form. Shortly after submitting the online questionnaire, students will be notified via email by SA Health if they are low risk and cleared or high risk and require follow-up.
Upon receiving clearance, students are required to tick the box that relates to their outcome in the Tuberculosis Screening section on page 2 of the Immunisation Compliance Form. Please do not tick BOTH boxes, only tick the box that relates to the outcome of your screening. Students may be asked to show evidence of their screening on the first day of placement.
It is recommended to complete the TB Screening Questionnaire prior to receiving vaccinations as you are unable to complete the screening within four weeks of receiving a live vaccine (MMR, Varicella).
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How do I complete the tuberculosis screening?
- Step 1: All Health Care students must complete the online tuberculosis screening questionnaire.
After completing the questionnaire, you will receive an email from SATB advising you of further instructions to complete your tuberculosis screening:
a) You have completed the TB Screening requirements,
OR
b) You are required to attend a GP to arrange an IGRA blood test (Continue to Step 2)
Should you have any difficulties accessing or completing the online questionnaire, please email satb@adelaide.on.net - Step 2: If you are instructed by SA TB Services to undergo an IGRA test, you will need to make an appointment with a GP. You are encouraged to utilise the UniSA Medical Clinic. You should bring TB Screening Results to your appointment. At your first appointment, the GP will arrange your blood test. You will be required to see the GP again for your results at a follow-up appointment. Your GP will complete the TB Clearance for Clinical Placement Healthcare Worker form. Based on your test results, your GP will either:
a) Sign off indicating that you have completed the TB Screening requirements on your Immunisation Compliance Form,
OR
b) Your GP will submit a request for a chest x-ray and for you to make another appointment with GP to review the chest x-ray results, (Continue to Step 3). - Step 3: If a Chest X-Ray is required, your GP will review the chest X-ray and perform a TB symptom check:
a) If the GP determines you are suitable to undertake a placement, they will complete the ‘TB Clearance for Clinical Placement Healthcare Worker’ form indicating follow-up with SATB is not required.
OR
b) If the GP determines you are exhibiting TB symptoms or concerns with your chest x-ray, they will refer you to the Chest Clinic, and you will receive an appointment posted to you for the Chest Clinic at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH). The Chest Clinic may require additional testing or prescribe treatment. Once the doctors at the Chest Clinic are satisfied that any Tuberculosis risk has been managed, you will be issued a certificate indicating that you have completed the TB Screening Requirements. - Keep a hard copy of the Certificate of Compliance and tuberculosis screening results in your records, ready for the commencement of your placement.
- Step 1: All Health Care students must complete the online tuberculosis screening questionnaire.
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How long is the tuberculosis screening valid for?
In most cases, the screening is valid for five years unless:
- You have been exposed to someone with TB
- You have extensively travelled/worked abroad in a high-risk country
- You have completed an overseas placement
- You are allocated to a venue where a more recent screening is mandatory.
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Do I need to be re-screened?
If you have previously been screened at SA TB Services, you do not need to be re-screened. Students who have been exposed to someone with TB, have extensively travelled/worked abroad in a high-risk country, or have completed an overseas placement since their last screening, must complete the process outlined above. Students who are allocated to a venue where a more recent screening is mandatory may need to be re-screened.
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What if the screening indicates 'high risk'?
If the questionnaire indicates a student is a high risk category alert after completing online questionnaire, they will be contacted and directed to make an appointment at the Chest Clinic.
The student will then follow the same process as pre-employment at SA Health. They will have a Tuberculin Skin Test and/or Chest X-ray. If latent TB monitored on a six month basis, follow-up X-ray and antibiotics. If active TB they will be admitted into hospital and treated; people they have been in contact will also be screened. Skin test is not undertaken on Wednesday, because they need to report two days after for result interpretation.
Students should not complete the online questionnaire again because they have lost or deleted their original confirmation email.
Queries can be directed to:
Michelle Brigham, SA TB services, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA
Email: michelle.brigham@health.sa.gov.au -
Further information
If you have any queries, please contact SA TB Services on (08) 7117 2967. Do not contact the CPU or UniSA about whether your past screening is sufficient, as only SA TB Services can make this decision and will do so based on the information you provide in the survey.
SA Tuberculosis services in CALHN Further Information (Link)
