Veterinary Students: What is Q Fever Vaccination?
Are you a prospective veterinary student?
In Australia, Q fever vaccination is a standard inherent requirement for students enrolled in veterinary medicine programs. Because students frequently handle high-risk species (such as cattle, sheep, and goats) and complete clinical placements in rural or agricultural settings, universities mandate screening and vaccination to comply with workplace health and safety (WHS) laws.
It’s compulsory to provide evidence of Q fever inoculation as part of your enrolment and participation within the veterinary medicine programs.
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, feces and milk, with birth fluids, the fetus, 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.
How the Vaccination Works
Q fever vaccination takes place over two appointments that 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.
Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete.
How to Arrange a Vaccination
You have two options:
1. Contact your university health service to see if Q fever screening and vaccination can be arranged through them. The cost of the vaccination program is separate from tuition fees.
2. If you have a doctor already, you can 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?
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.
About Australian Veterinary Programs
The veterinary programs featured here hold full American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accreditation This means that graduates are considered to be in the same category as graduates from North American veterinary schools when undertaking licensing examinations in North America and be eligible to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).
OzTREKK represents 4 Australian universities with professional veterinary degrees. Please note, the earlier you apply the better!
Graduate Entry
University of Melbourne – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
University of Sydney – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Undergraduate Entry
Murdoch University – Bachelor of Science / Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
University of Queensland – Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours)
University of Sydney – Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
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