Side effects from immunisation
Vaccines are safe and effective. Like all medicines, they can sometimes cause side effects.
Most side effects are mild and go away quickly.
Common side effects include:
- pain, redness, itching, swelling or burning where the needle was given
- mild fever that doesn’t last long.
These are generally mild and usually last for 1 to 2 days.
You can find more information about side effects for each vaccine on the vaccines page.
If you are worried about side effects, talk to your health professional.
Most children who have had a reaction to a vaccine can still be safely vaccinated again. Your health professional can give advice. They may refer you to a specialist immunisation service if needed.
You can also read the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) available on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website for each vaccine.
Managing common side effects
You can reduce many of the common side effects by:
- drinking extra fluids
- resting
- taking paracetamol (follow the instructions on the label)
- wearing light clothing if you feel hot.
For simple guidance, see Following vaccination what to expect and what to do.
Rare side effects of immunisation
Serious side effects from vaccines are rare. For most people, vaccines are much safer than getting the disease.
There is a very small chance of a severe allergic reaction. Because of this, you may be asked to wait at the clinic for a short time (15 minutes) after your vaccination.
Get medical help straight away if you or your child:
- have a reaction that seems severe or unusual
- feel worried about symptoms after vaccination
- have any of the symptoms listed below.
Anaphylaxis
A severe allergic reaction which occurs suddenly, usually within 15 minutes, however anaphylaxis can occur within hours of vaccine administration.
Early signs of anaphylaxis include:
- redness or itchy skin
- swelling or hives
- trouble breathing
- ongoing cough or hoarse voice
- feeling unwell or distressed.
Intussusception
(rotavirus vaccine)
A rare bowel problem where part of the bowel slides into another part.
There is a very small risk after the first dose of rotavirus vaccine, and a smaller risk after the second dose.
Signs include:
- strong crying or pain
- looking pale
- being very irritable
- pulling legs up to the stomach.
Seizures
Some young children (especially aged 1–3 years) can have seizures if they get a high fever. This can happen after a vaccine or an infection.
The seizure is usually (about 20 seconds and rarely longer than 2 minutes).
How to report a reaction
It is important to report any unexpected or unwanted reactions after vaccination. This helps experts monitor vaccine safety.
You can report vaccine reactions in the following ways:
- contact your state or territory health service.
- report a problem or side effect directly to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online or over the phone.
- use the National Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) reporting form (available for email, fax or post).
If you are unsure how to report a reaction, your health professional can help you.