Shingles Vaccinations
We have a ‘1st dose’ Shingles vaccine clinic on Saturday 22 March 2025. This will be our final ‘1st dose’ clinic until Spring.
We will automatically reserve your 2nd dose once you’ve received Dose 1. You will be notified of the date and time of your 2nd dose booking.
ELIGIBILITY for the 2-dose course of Shingrix®, given 2-6 months apart in most cases, includes:
- people aged 65 years and older
- First Nations people aged 50 years and older
- immunocompromised people aged 18 years and older with medical conditions including:
- haemopoietic stem cell transplant
- solid organ transplant
- haematological malignancy
- advanced or untreated HIV.
(Immunocompromised people may need an Appointment with their GP to determine eligibility & timing of doses.)
Anyone who has received a free Zostavax shingles vaccine in the past will need to wait 5 years from the date of vaccination before being eligible for a Shingrix. If in doubt, book an Appointment with your GP to determine eligibility and the timing of your doses.
Anyone who paid for a Zostavax shingles vaccine in the past may receive a free Shingrix vaccine if eligible. You should wait at least 12 months between receiving Zostavax and getting the Shingrix vaccine.
Anyone who has had Shingles (the condition) within the last 12 months will need an Appointment with their GP to determine their eligibility and the timing of their doses.
Due to limitations on supply, we will continue to offer Shingrix vaccines only to current patients. To ensure we manage stock appropriately, Shingrix vaccines are only provided during dedicated Shingrix vaccination clinics.
Flu Vaccinations
FLU CLINICS for 2025 are now open for bookings.
The Department of Health 2024 flu season advice is below. (2025 information is yet to be released)
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6 months and over, but only the categories below are eligible for free influenza vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP):
- ages 6 months to less than 5 years
- ages 65 years and above
- pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and above
- people who have certain medical conditions which increase the risk of influenza disease complications (cardiac disease, chronic respiratory conditions, chronic neurological conditions, immunocompromising conditions, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, renal disease, haematological disorders, and children aged 6 months to 10 years taking long-term aspirin therapy).
The General Practitioners who consult from Blackburn Clinic have decided that ‘Flu Clinic’ consultations (which do not address anything other than the flu vaccine) will be billed to Medicare. If you have your flu vaccine as part of a normal consultation with your regular doctor, normal consultation fees will apply.
If you are not eligible for a free Government flu vaccine, the vaccine will cost $20.
Covid Vaccinations
Regular COVID-19 vaccinations (also known as boosters) are the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19.
All patients over the age of 18 years are eligible for one Covid booster every 12 months (check that it is 12 months since your last dose and 6 months since a Covid infection).
A booster is recommended every 6 months for those aged 75 and over and every 12 months for those aged 65-74.
If you are eligible, you may have a covid vaccination at the same time as you have your flu vaccine. You do not require a separate booking. Please speak to your immuniser on the day. Covid vaccines are not available during shingles vaccine clinics.
