Which subjects or courses need the Q fever vaccination?
It is your responsibility to be vaccinated against Q fever if you are enrolling in the following courses or subjects. It is compulsory to provide evidence of Q fever inoculation as part of your enrolment and participation.
Courses
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Bachelor of Agriculture
- Bachelor of Science with the Veterinary Bioscience major
Subjects
- ANSC10002 – Animal Systems (Semester 2 at Dookie)
- ANSC20002 – Comparative Nutrition and Digestion (Semester 2)
- ANSC30009 – Animal Systems Analysis (Semester 2)
- ANSC90009 – Dairy Systems (September)
Please note: you only need to be vaccinated against Q fever if you are participating in these courses or subjects.
What is Q fever?
- Q fever is a flu-like disease, causing illness that can range from mild to very severe. It can sometimes last for years.
- People usually get Q fever from animals such as goats, cattle and sheep.
- The germ is spread in the urine, faeces and milk, with birth fluids, the foetus and the placenta being the most dangerous. When infected fluids dry out, the germ can remain alive for years.
- People who work with or near animals are most at risk of getting Q fever.
- Everyone at risk should have a test to see if they are protected from the disease.
- Preventing Q fever is the main aim of Q fever vaccination.
For more information about Q fever, please read the Australian Q Fever Register website.
How do I get vaccinated against Q fever?
How the vaccination works
Q fever vaccination takes place over two appointments which must be precisely one week apart. The first appointment is a skin and blood test to assess your immunity to the disease, while the second appointment is for the vaccination injection itself.
How to arrange a vaccination
You have two options:
- Q fever screening and vaccination can be arranged through the University Health Service. The cost of the vaccination program is separate from tuition fees. Contact the University Health Service now
- If you have a doctor already, you can ring and ask if they provide Q fever screening and vaccination. The Q Fever Register website has a list of doctors and medical centres that provide screening and vaccination in your local area.
How do I record that I've received the vaccination?
Australian Q Fever Register
The Australian Q Fever Register is a database that stores information about the Q fever immune status of people who have agreed to be part of the register. Joining the register means that you can be safely employed in a new job (in a position where you may be exposed to Q fever) more easily and quickly. It can also help doctors avoid the risks of unpleasant reactions that may occur when a person who is already immune is unnecessarily vaccinated.
For more information, please visit the Australian Q Fever Register website.
For first-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students
All first-year DVM students (including Veterinary Biosciences major students) must confirm their Q fever inoculation with the appropriate contact in the Faculty of Science in order to participate in animal handling activities. Failure to provide this information will result in exclusion from these activities, which are a hurdle requirement to progress through the course.