Consumer resources

The resources listed below may assist parents and caregivers in understanding the many aspects of immunisation and vaccines.

NCIRS resources

We have produced a number of resources providing information on vaccine preventable diseases and vaccination. These have been primarily developed for immunisation providers but are also available for interested members of the community.

Resources include:

SKAI – Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation: Resources for parents

A series of five Q&A fact sheets addressing the five concerns most commonly expressed by Australian parents are available from the Immunise Australia website.

These fact sheets were developed by the SARAH Collaboration. Further information on the SARAH project is available on the Social research pages of our website.

Online articles

Cheng A, Macartney K. Flu vaccine won’t definitely stop you from getting the flu, but it’s more important than you think. The Conversation. April 2017.
Macartney K, Leask J, Wood N. Is there a test your child can take before getting vaccinated, as Pauline Hanson said? The Conversation. March 2017.
Macartney K, Jayasinghe S. Explainer: how do you get shingles and who should be vaccinated against it? The Conversation. October 201.
Carlson S, Wiley K, McIntyre P. ‘No Vax, No Visit’? If mum was vaccinated baby is already protected against whooping cough. The Conversation. May 2016.
Leask J, Beard F. Vaccination objection rates aren’t skyrocketing. The Conversation. April 2016.
Macartney K, Regan A, Marshall H. Vaccines to expect when you’re expecting, and why. The Conversation. January 2016.
Macartney K. Forget ‘no jab, no pay’ schemes, there are better ways to boost vaccination. The Conversation. February 2015.
Yin JK, Georgousakis M. Vaccination and herd protection. Web Child. April 2014.
Georgousakis M, Macartney K. Health check: when do adults need to be immunised? The Conversation. April 2014.
Willaby H. Why do people not vaccinate? The Conversation. March 2014.
Macartney K, Georgousakis M. Vaccine program changes protect kids, but with fewer ouches. The Conversation. July 2013.
Chiew M. Immunisation and changes in benefits. Web Child. July 2013.
Georgousakis M. Childcare and vaccination. Web Child. June 2013.
Leask J, Willaby H. With vaccination rates stable, ‘no jab, no play’ rules are beside the point. The Conversation. May 2013.
Georgousakis M. Vaccinations and pregnancy. Web Child. April 2013.
Georgousakis M. HPV vaccination: not just for girls. Web Child. December 2012.
Leask J. Monday’s medical myth: the flu vaccine will give you influenza. The Conversation. April 2012.
Leask J. Vaccinations in the news in 2011. The Conversation. December 2011.
Leask J, McVernon J. Clear and present danger: how best to fight the latest whooping cough outbreak. The Conversation. September 2011.
Booy R. Protecting our elderly: beating flu outbreaks in nursing homes. The Conversation. September 2011.
Booy R. Having a crack: what do chiropractors know about vaccinations? The Conversation. August 2011.

Decision aids

MMR decision aid

This decision aid has been designed to help you decide whether to immunise your child with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Websites

General information

Australian websites

Immunise Australia – has a number of fact sheets and other useful information for parents about vaccine preventable diseases and immunisation programs.

Each state and territory health department also has information on infectious diseases, vaccines and immunisation programs:

Australian Capital Territory – ACT Health
New South Wales – NSW Health
Northern Territory – Department of Health
Queensland – Queensland Government
South Australia – SA Health
Tasmania – Department of Health and Human Services
Victoria – Department of Health and Human Services
Western Australia – Department of Health

Some other useful Australian websites for parents include:

International websites

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (USA) – has a number of fact sheets, photos and video clips which parents may find useful.

National Health Service (NHS) (UK) – has a number of useful presentations and animations which provide good background information about vaccines in general, what immunisation is, how it works and monitoring vaccine safety.

Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) (USA) – provides information for the public about vaccines and the diseases they prevent. This site includes video clips, case histories, recommendations and journal articles. The IAC also publishes Unprotected People Reports, real-life accounts of people who have suffered or died from vaccine preventable diseases, along with personal testimonies, case reports, newspaper articles, and opinion pieces about the value of immunisation.

Vaccine safety

Links to organisations providing information about vaccine safety are provided on our Provider resources page.

Books and other publications

Immunisation Myths and Realities: a guide for providers (5th edition)
This publication addresses many of the common concerns about the safety of vaccines. It is available from the Immunise Australia website.

The science of immunisation: questions and answers
This booklet, published by the Australian Academy of Science, explains current immunisation science, including areas of consensus and uncertainty. It covers the questions: What is immunisation?; What is in a vaccine?; Who benefits from vaccines?; Are vaccines safe?; How are vaccines shown to be safe?; What does the future hold for vaccination?

Documentaries/videos

Chain of Protection

This website and associated videos provide information on how diseases are transmitted and the role of vaccination in protecting our families and community.

Jabbed - Love, fear and vaccines

This television documentary screened on SBS in May 2013 and is available on demand from the SBS website.
It looks at the growing trend of vaccine hesitancy and reasons for complacency and concerns, and highlights the impact of delaying or refusing immunisation.

The associated SBS website provides further background information.

Last updated May 2017