Q Fever
Q Fever and natural immunity information can now be included on The Australian Immunisation Register as of the 15th of April 2024. This register also holds your COVID-19 vaccines, vaccines from the National Immunisation Program and other private vaccines eg. Travel and influenza.
How to get your information on the immunisation register
If you have already received your Q Fever vaccine before the 15th of April 2024, you can transfer your immunisation record to The Australian Immunisation Register. This can be done by providing your Q Fever eStatement to a recognised vaccination provider in Australia. You will find this by logging onto the Q Fever Register website: https://www.qfever.org/ or by calling 1300 733 837 and requesting a copy after answering security questions. Your information can be accessed through the Q Fever Register until the 30th June 2025.
What is Q Fever?
Q Fever, originally known as ‘Query Fever’ is a bacterial pathogen (Coxiella burnetii,) that can exist in domestic and wild animals without showing signs of infection. The organism is excreted in animal urine, faeces, milk, birth fluids, on a newborn and in the placenta.
The most common cause of infection is through inhalation of the organism through contaminated aerosols. Infection also occurs through skin abrasions, splashes of infected material into the eye and consumption of raw milk. Uncommon infection pathways include human to human and through tick bites.
Contaminated aerosols include mists or droplets from blood, milk, urine, faeces and especially from birth fluids and placenta. Examples or when you may come in contact with these is while using high pressured hoses to clean vehicles, boots and clothing, while working in/visiting an abattoir, handling wool or straw, birthing stock, and from dust in the yards. The list could go on so the message here is that it is important to be immunised if working with animals- dead or alive.
Why is it important?
If you do get Q Fever, the onset of illness ranges from 14 to 60 days. Symptoms are the same as a flu; fever, chills, coughing, headache, sweating, muscle pains and weakness. Illness typically lasts for one to six weeks and may also include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and anorexia. That may not be the last of it however as 1% of acute cases will develop into chronic endocarditis which may not become apparent until 2-4 years following the initial infection. This is where the bacteria enter the bloodstream and attack the lining of the heart valves and/or chambers, it is fatal.
Vaccination Process
Vaccination is recommended to those who are 15 or older and who are at risk of infection. Contact your family doctor about getting vaccinated against Q Fever. They will normally hold clinics when they have multiple people interested.
Before you receive the vaccination, your doctor will need to confirm that you are not infected by Q Fever. Therefore, prior to vaccination you require a scratch test and a blood test. One week later, if the scratch and blood test have come back negative you will receive your Q fever vaccine. Follow this link to find out whether your occupation is recommended to receive a Q Fever vaccine.