2025 flu vaccine

The 2025 Flu vaccine is now available.

The Flu vaccine is strongly recommended and is funded for the following groups:

• The Royal Children's (RCH) patients
• All children aged 6m to less than 5 years
• Medically at risk children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years

User pay flu vaccine

User paid Flu vaccine is available for all other people over 5 years of age at a cost of $20.

2025 RSV Program

The RSV immunisation is now available for all RCH patients that meet Department of Health eligibility criteria.

The RCH 2025 RSV Program stock is limited and priority will be given to RCH patients before those presenting from the community.

For those unable to access RSV in the community please call the RCH Immunisation Centre on on 1300 882 924 (Option 2) on the day you intend to visit to confirm availability of stock. 

We strongly encourage non-RCH patients to access the RSV immunisation in the community where possible (GPs and local councils).

Coming to the Immunisation Centre

Led by a specialist nursing team (Nurse Unit Manager: Tara Hearn), the centre provides specialist immunisation advice. The team supports outpatient clinics such as the Immunisation Clinic (Tuesday am), Immigrant Health (Monday pm) and dedicated BCG clinics. It also provides seasonal vaccines, such as influenza and delivers the RSV immunoglobulin for at risk infants.

When coming to the Immunisation Centre at the RCH, the staff are committed to ensuring that the experience is a positive one, for both the child and the family.  Please view one of our RCH patients being immunised video.  

Needle phobia

Pain and anxiety associated with vaccine administration can be a source of distress for children and their families. There are a range of techniques that can be used to reduce this pain and anxiety, such as effective preparation, distraction techniques and pain management strategies. When these strategies are unsuccessful, the Immunisation Drop-in centre can offer a unique 'Immunisation under sedation' service.  

To find out more, please contact the Immunisation service on 1300 882 924 (Option 2) and bookings are essential. Please view a child's guide to nitrous oxide video.

Meningococcal vaccines

For more information on Meningococcal vaccines, the different products and their schedules, please visit the Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre website. With a Nurse Practitioner – Lynne Addlem and Sonja Elia, now available, vaccines that are not on the National Immunisation Program, such as Meningococcal B and ACWY are now available for purchase.  

Travel

A dedicated BCG vaccine clinic is held on Tuesday mornings for infants aged less than 12 months. For any other travel advice, or for BCG vaccine for infants aged greater than 12 months, click the BCG clinics for children.

We are now accepting referrals for the BCG vaccine. The clinic is currently booked up until MID SPETEMBER 2025 (for planned travel from MID OCTOBER 2025 onwards). Please check this website regularly for updates. 

Adverse events following immunisation

In Victoria, adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) should be notified to SAEFVIC (the Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community).

This specialist service helps immunisation providers and the community manage children and adults who have had an AEFI.

These pages contain a number of resources that the Immunisation service provides to clinicians at the RCH. Please contact Tara Hearn if you have any suggestions for improvements to these pages.