Q Fever Vaccine

Q fever vaccination in Melbourne, in two simple visits

Get protected before your vet placement, farm job or animal work starts. Yarra Medical offers Q fever screening and the Q-VAX vaccine in Abbotsford, minutes from Richmond, Collingwood and the Melbourne CBD, with one upfront price and your record uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register.

Please call to book. Q fever screening can’t be booked online.

You need two appointments exactly 7 days apart, so our reception team books both for you in one call.

Appointments Mon–Fri, 8am–3pm · Inside The Hive, 313 Victoria St, Abbotsford

WHAT IT COSTS

Total cost after Medicare rebate

$446

For screening and vaccination, both visits

Total fees paid on the day: $536.00
Medicare pays you back: −$90.10

With a Medicare card, you get $45.05 back for each of your two consultations. Without one, the total is $536.

Visit	Fee	Rebate	You pay
1. Consult + skin test	$188.00	−$45.05	$143
2. Consult + vaccine	$348.00	−$45.05	$303
Blood test	No charge (pathology)

Already immune? You only pay for Visit 1: $143 after rebate
Same-day immunisation certificate
Q fever appointments Monday to Friday, 8am–3pm

How Q fever vaccination works

VISIT 1 · about 20 minutes

Screening

A blood test and a small skin test check whether you have already been exposed to Q fever. Our pathology collection is on site.

VISIT 2 · about 7 days later

Results and vaccine

We read your skin test and check your blood result. If both are clear, you get the single-dose vaccine the same visit.

SAME DAY

Proof of immunity

We record your vaccination, or your natural immunity, on the Australian Immunisation Register and give you a certificate.

Call us on (03) 9027 6262 to book. Q fever screening isn’t available through online booking. Reception will book both appointments, 7 days apart, in the one call, and we’ll text you a reminder before Visit 2.

Who needs a Q fever vaccine?

Recommended for anyone 15 or older who works with cattle, sheep, goats or other high-risk animals, including:

Working holiday makers heading to farm or meat-processing work
Vet, vet nursing and animal science students before placements
Vets, vet nurses and clinic staff
Farm, zoo and wildlife workers and volunteers
Abattoir, meat and pet food workers, shearers and stock transporters
Professional dog and cat breeders

What is Q fever?

Q fever is a bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii. People catch it by breathing in dust contaminated by the urine, faeces or birth fluids of infected animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goats.

It can cause fever, severe headache, muscle aches and fatigue, and some people develop long-term illness. Victoria recorded 77 cases in 2024, more than double its usual yearly number. A single dose of the Q fever vaccine is highly effective.

Booking for a group?

Universities, TAFEs, vet clinics, farms and labour-hire agencies can book dedicated screening sessions. We can invoice the employer directly.

Our Melbourne Q fever clinic

Level 1, Shop 25, The Hive Shopping Centre
313 Victoria Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067

On Victoria Street, an easy trip from Richmond, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Kew, Hawthorn and the Melbourne CBD.

Q fever appointments: Mon–Fri 8am–3pm

Q fever vaccine FAQs

Can I book Q fever screening online?

No, please call us on (03) 9027 6262. Screening needs two appointments exactly 7 days apart: the second is when we read your skin test. Reception books both together so the timing is right. Appointments are Monday to Friday, 8am–3pm.

Where can I get a Q fever vaccine in Melbourne?

Not every GP clinic offers it, because doctors need extra training to do the skin test. Yarra Medical runs Q fever screening and vaccination at our Abbotsford clinic, close to Richmond, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Carlton and the Melbourne CBD.

Why do I need screening first?

If you’ve already had Q fever or the vaccine, being vaccinated again can cause a severe reaction. The blood and skin tests make sure it’s safe for you.

I've had the vaccine before. Do I need it again?

No. If you have documentation of a previous vaccine or infection, bring it in and we can add it to the Australian Immunisation Register without testing.

How soon will I be protected?

Allow about three weeks from your first visit: one week for screening, then around two weeks after the vaccine. Book early if your start date is fixed.

Can I have it if I'm pregnant?

The vaccine isn’t recommended during pregnancy. Book a consult and we’ll talk through your options.

How much does the Q fever vaccine cost in Melbourne?

Your final cost is $446 with a Medicare card. You pay $536 across the two visits ($188 for screening, $348 for the vaccine visit), and Medicare pays you back $45.05 for each consultation, $90.10 in total. The blood test is no charge. If screening shows you’re already immune, you only pay for the first visit: $143 after the rebate. Without a Medicare card, the total is $536. The vaccine itself isn’t government funded. Many employers will reimburse the cost — ask yours.

Q fever symptoms

Common symptoms include headache, fever, muscle aches, chills, dry cough and nausea. Occasionally, it can cause complications such as heart disease.

For more information please view the Better Health website.

For information on other vaccines, see also:

Your Health, Our Priority

Book an appointment with our experienced doctors and get the care you deserve.