Osteopathy Australia vaccination policy statement 

Vaccination Policy Statement

The Board of Directors of Osteopathy Australia has approved the following policy statement regarding vaccination:

Osteopathy Australia supports public vaccination programs as important public health initiatives. Parents and patients with questions or concerns should consult a medical practitioner, child and family health nurse, or state health department.

This statement applies to vaccinations for all health conditions, including common viruses like COVID-19 and influenza (flu). For further information please review the following websites and/or seek advice from a suitably qualified health professional.

Vaccination and Health Workers

Health care workers may be exposed to, and transmit, vaccine- preventable diseases. Maintaining immunity in the health care worker population helps prevent transmission of vaccine- preventable diseases to and from health care workers and patients. Health practitioners should check what obligations you have in your state for specific industries and care sectors.

Osteopathy Board of Australia (OBA)

Under the Osteopathy Board of Australia codes and guidelines, to comply with s. 133 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and these guidelines, advertising of services must not contain any claim, statement, or implication that the services can be a substitute for public health vaccination or immunisation.

See more at: http://www.osteopathyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines.aspx

Vaccination Information and resources

A range of information on vaccinations can be found below:

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Questions about vaccinations document provides a range of information about vaccinations.

Information on COVID-19 vaccination can be found here.

Information on Influenza (flu) vaccination can be found here.

National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance (NCIRS): NCIRS aims to inform policy and planning for immunisation services in Australia and to support initiatives in the surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases, including monitoring of vaccination coverage and immunisation adverse events.

https://www.ncirs.org.au/

Immunisation Calculator: This calculator determines catch-up vaccines from birth to adulthood on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. It will help to determine what vaccinations are due. You will need your immunisation records ready to enter the dates for each vaccine you were given. Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) may not have a record of vaccines received before September 2016).

https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/catch-up-calculator/calculator

Vaccines and Immunisation: A vaccine is any preparation intended to produce immunity to a disease by stimulating the production of antibodies. Vaccines include, for example, suspensions of killed or attenuated microorganisms, or products or derivatives of microorganisms. The most common method of administering vaccines is by injection, but some are given by mouth or nasal spray. More information on this topic is available on World Health Organisation (WHO) website.

https://www.who.int/teams/immunization-vaccines-and-biologicals

State Government sites

ACT: https://www.act.gov.au/health/vaccines-and-immunisations

NSW: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/default.aspx

NT: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/healthy-living/immunisation

QLD: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/immunisation

SA: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public%20Content/SA%20Health%20Internet/Conditions/Immunisation/Immunisation

TAS: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation

VIC: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/immunisation

WA: https://www.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Immunisation-in-WA

Review

This policy was originally published in 2011, and revised in 2013, 2015 and last updated in 2025.

Need more information or help?

For further information, a suggestion or to discuss this topic, please:

Email your inquiry to [email protected] Call Osteopathy Australia on 1800 467 836

Access further information via www.osteopathy.org.au