GP Information

Detailed information about the use of Q-VAX®, including pre-vaccination testing, is available from Seqirus ™ (A CSL Company) The information available from this site includes Consumer Medicine Information and Product Information.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook and the Q Fever Facts website also have valuable information on Q Fever.

The overview below highlights the important steps in the vaccination process:

1. CHECK - if an Individual seeking vaccination has already been vaccinated.

• Ask the individual to logon to the Australian Q Fever Register (www.qfever.org) or call on 1300 733 837 (1300 QFEVER).

2. TEST - for previous exposure or vaccination.

• Blood test - CFT antibody test.
• Skin test - intradermal hypersensitivity test.

3. VACCINATE

Seven (7) days after initial tests, if both tests are negative and there are no other contraindications (e.g. allergy to eggs or the patient is a child), vaccinate.

Explain possible side effects of vaccination and inform patient that it takes at least two (2) weeks for the vaccine to be effective and the patient should not expose themselves to any risks until after this period.

4. REGISTER

The patient may choose to record their Q Fever immune status on the Q Fever Register. This is voluntary.

Authorised Users should follow the procedures for uploading documentation on the Register if the patient elects to proceed with this option.

Medical practitioners may choose to seek approval as an Authorised User of the Q Fever Register. However, this is voluntary.

Where a Medical Practice/Health Practitioner is not recorded as an Authorised User, they may still register patients on the Register by forwarding completed forms Personal Details And Consent Form And Pre-screening And Vaccination Form to the Register by facsimile or email for subsequent processing by Register staff.

There are benefits for practices in becoming an Authorised User including:

• as an Authorised User, staff of medical centres can search for an individual’s Q Fever immune status; and
• The ability to directly record relevant details of consenting patients directly into the Register and thereby expediate the ability for a patient to be issued a Q Fever eStatement and assist with their employment.

Note: Completed Patient Forms must still be provided to the Register for verification purposes prior to an eStatement being available for each individual patient.

as the primary focus of the Register is individuals directly employed or associated with the meat processing and livestock industries, non-authorised Medical Practices are encouraged to only submit documentation for individuals associated with the meat and livestock industries albeit that anyone who has been tested or vaccinated, or has contracted Q Fever disease, can be recorded on the Register, regardless of their occupation.

Access to the Register is password restricted to ensure privacy and accuracy of the data. Getting access is reasonably quick and simple.

Following approval, Authorised Users are granted password access after which time they can record and submit new patient details as well as verify an individual’s status (with the patient’s permission).

To become an Authorised User follow the Steps below:

• STEP 1. Download, print and complete the following forms:

  • Organisation Access Application Form – Each Authorised User must be associated with an Approved Organisation recorded on the Register. An authorised representative of each Organisation must complete the Application using the prescribed Application for an Organisation to Access the Register form.

  • Authorised User Application Form - Each individual within an Approved Organisation is required to complete a separate application using the Authorised User Application form.

• STEP 2. Submit the Application Forms to the Register - Application Forms for Organisations and Authorised Users can be either uploaded online or submitted to the Register by email.
• STEP 3. Await Confirmation - Register staff will review each Application. Once approved an Authorised User account will be confirmed and each applicant will be issued with a unique login and password.

The Australian Q Fever Register was established to help protect people working in at-risk environments.

The Register:

• Saves time
  • Prospective employees can immediately demonstrate their Q Fever immune status by showing their Q Fever eStatement or by contacting the Register (if they require a replacement eStatement). There is no need to try to find records of tests or vaccination from other employers or medical practices.
  • Medical practices no longer receive requests to dig up old patient test and vaccination records.
  • There is no need to undergo an unnecessary test and wait for the test result if previous records cannot be located.
• Saves money
  • Unnecessary re-testing of individuals is avoided.
  • The cost of seeking patient records is eliminated.
• Protects health
  • Instant access to an individual’s immune status removes the risk of serious hypersensitivity reactions following second vaccinations.
  • Providing employers with quick access to an individual’s immune status makes it easier for them to ensure that their workforce is properly protected.

In the event that the patient elects to registration medical practitioners should complete the relevant paperwork to register the patient.

To prepare the paperwork for submission to the Register:

STEP 1. Download Personal Details and Consent form

Each patient seeking to have their details recorded on the Register are required to complete this form. This form provides the necessary consent for an individual’s information to be recorded on the Register. There are two key points regarding this form:

• The Register cannot enter an individual’s (patient) details into the Register (or issue a Q Fever eStatement) if this form is not correctly completed and signed.
• This form is for Register purposes only. It is Register policy that this form should not be retained by medical practitioners (or employers). Copies of this document are securely disposed of.

Note: Whilst the submission of patient information to the Register can be undertaken by mailing hard copy forms. this is discouraged given the potential for personnel documentation to be misplaced. If a medical practice elects to submit information in hard copy format, it may be beneficial to retain copies of all paperwork for a period of time as a risk mitigation approach against inadvertent loss of paperwork.

STEP 2. Provide evidence of the test result and vaccination status by one of the following two options:

• Option 1 - Download Pre-screening and Vaccination form
  • This form serves as a template for recording the necessary medical record of an individual in relation to pre-screening, vaccination and Q Fever Immune Status. This form must be completed and signed by an authorised health professional. Additional information (such as pathology reports) or other documentation may be attached to this form.
  • A copy of this form may be retained by the practice as a medical record for each patient.
  • The Register must receive a legible copy of this form for each individual seeking to be recorded on the Register.
  Option 2 – Use Custom Medical Practice form
  • Medical Practices/health professionals may elect to use their own Pre-Screening and Vaccination Form to record the required medical evidence of test results, vaccination and immune status.
  • These forms are acceptable to accompany a registration request on the basis that they contain the same information as the Pre-screening and Vaccination Form.
  • The Register must receive a legible copy of this form for each individual seeking to be recorded on the Register.

STEP 3 – Submitting completed Documentation to the Register for each patient.

Details for each patient seeking to have their details recorded on the Register are required to be recorded in the Register as follows:

• Authorised Users - For Authorised Users, details of new patients can be updated directly to the Register. Refer to the Authorised User Guide for a detailed explanation on this process.
• Non-Authorised Users - Where a medical centre has not applied to be an Authorised User, patient information can be submitted directly to Register Administration in electronic format by email or facsimile.

For more information, including help on accessing or using the Register, please call the Q Fever Helpline: 1300 QFEVER (1300 733 837).