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Revaccination advice – Dodges Ferry Medical

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  • The Director of Public Health has investigated the storage of vaccines at Dodges Ferry Medical.
  • The Director of Public Health found that between July 2003 and 22 March 2023, there was no written evidence that showed the vaccines were being stored as required by National Guidelines.
  • This means that vaccines may have been too hot or too cold, which can make them not work as well.
  • Having a vaccine that is not stored correctly does not cause harm, but it may not fully protect against illness.
  • Vaccines that were not stored correctly were the free government-funded vaccines (under the National Immunisation Program) for children, teenagers, pregnant women and adults.
  • Public Health recommends people who were vaccinated at Dodges Ferry Medical during this time to seek advice about having those vaccines again.
  • Please talk to your (or your child’s) General Practitioner about whether you need to have any vaccines again.
  • You can also talk to a nurse from Public Health about what vaccines you may need.
  • To talk with a nurse from Public Health, call 1800 671 738, press option 4 and ask to speak to an Immunisation Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Vaccines that are not affected:

  • COVID-19 vaccines, which were not given at Dodges Ferry Medical.
  • Influenza (flu) vaccines before 2023.
  • Any vaccine that you purchased from a pharmacy with a script (such as travel vaccines) and was then given at the clinic

What should I do if I and/or family members have had a vaccine at Dodges Ferry Medical?

  • Public Health has worked with the clinic to contact people who may need to have another vaccine.
  • A letter has been sent to patients who have received a vaccine at Dodges Ferry Medical.
  • The letter may still be on its way to you during the week starting 11 June 2023.
  • Please take this letter to your (or your child’s) General Practitioner to talk about whether you need to have any vaccines again.
  • Whether you need to have any vaccines again will depend on several things, including your vaccine history, age and health.
  • Having a vaccine again is safe, even if the first vaccine worked.
  • You can also talk to a nurse from Public Health about what you may need.
  • To talk with a nurse from Public Health, call 1800 671 738, press option 4 and ask to speak to an Immunisation Clinical Nurse Consultant.

You may contact Public Health Services for advice

Public Health nurses can talk with you about whether you need to have any vaccines again.

Public Health nurses are available between Monday to Friday from 9.00am – 5.00pm.

To talk with a nurse from Public Health, call 1800 671 738, press option 4 and ask to speak to an Immunisation Clinical Nurse Consultant.

More information for affected patients

  • People who had vaccines at Dodges Ferry Medical between July 2003 and 22 March 2023.
  • This includes the free government-funded vaccines (under the National Immunisation Program) for children, teenagers, pregnant women, and adults.

  • Public Health has worked with Dodges Ferry Medical to contact people who may need to have another vaccine.
  • The letter may still be on its way to you.
  • However, we may not have everyone’s current address. 
  • Or, you can talk to your (or your child’s) General Practitioner.
  • You do not need to do anything if you only had influenza (flu) vaccine before 2023 or any vaccine that you purchased from a pharmacy with a script (such as travel vaccines) and was then given at the Dodges Ferry Medical.

  • To talk with a nurse from Public Health, call 1800 671 738, press option 4 and ask to speak to an Immunisation Clinical Nurse Consultant.

  • Vaccination is important to protect against a number of possibly serious diseases.
  • The vaccines given at Dodges Ferry Medical may have been kept at temperatures too hot or too cold, which can make them not work as well in protecting people against certain diseases.
  • The Director of Public Health has concerns about how vaccines were stored at the clinic during this time and recommends that you consider having vaccines again.
  • Having a vaccine again is safe, even if the first vaccine worked.
  • Whether you need to have any vaccines again will depend on several things including your vaccine history, age and health.

  • Public Health has sent information to all General Practices in Tasmania with advice about the situation. Take the letter you received from Public Health to your doctor.
  • If you would like to talk to a nurse at Public Health about revaccination, they will give you another letter saying what vaccines you should have again.
  • You can take this letter to your General Practitioner.

  • There will be no charge for the vaccine but if you have an appointment at a General Practice, you may be charged a fee for their consultation.
  • Please talk to your General Practitioner about this.
  • There is no charge to speak to a nurse from Public Health.

  • It is not possible to know which vaccines were effective or not effective.
  • This will not change your vaccination status for recording keeping or documentation purposes where National Immunisation Program vaccinations are needed.

  • It is not possible to know which vaccines were effective or not effective.
  • This will not change your child’s vaccination status for recording keeping or documentation purposes where National Immunisation Program vaccinations are needed.
  • Your child can still attend childcare and school.

  • It is not possible to know which vaccines were effective or not effective.
  • Your vaccination status as it appears on the Australian Immunisation Register will not change, even if you choose not to get revaccinated.
  • Centrelink payments will not be affected, even if you choose not to get revaccinated.
  • Childcare subsidy payments will not be affected, even if you choose not to get revaccinated.

  • When your doctor reports the new vaccination(s) to the AIR, your AIR record will keep information on all the vaccines you have received.
  • You will have multiple doses recorded for the same vaccine on your record.
  • The old vaccine record will not be deleted.
  • If you have any concerns, please call AIR on 1800 653 809.

  • Vaccines should be stored and transported within the recommended temperature range of +2 degrees Celsius to +8 degrees Celsius at all times.
  • Most vaccines can be damaged if they become too hot or too cold.
  • Vaccines that have  been too hot or too cold will not cause you or your child harm, but they may not work as well at preventing disease.
  • Learn more about national vaccine storage guidelines

  • The Public Health Act 1997 enables the Director of Public Health, or an authorised officer, to require information which is necessary for the protection of public health. This may include health information.   
  • This information includes records from Dodges Ferry Medical and the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). 

  • In Australia, young people under the age of 18 years who have the ability to understand and make decisions about their own health can make those decisions without their parents or guardians being involved. 
  • Parents or guardians do not automatically have the ability to make decisions about a young person’s healthcare.
  • However, a doctor can only give someone under the age of 18 medical treatment (for example getting a vaccine) if the young person gives informed consent.
  • Find out more about young people’s rights at the doctor. 

  • Public Health Services supports and oversees the National Immunisation Program in Tasmania.
  • Public Health Services does not regulate the operation of private general practices (GPs) in Tasmania or monitor standards of general practice.
  • However, when concerns arise about vaccine storage that may pose risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, Public Health Services has a role in assessing and advising on addressing this risk.
  • In the current circumstances, Public Health Services is informing potentially affected people, so they can seek individual advice about the need to be revaccinated.
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