Health Services
Vaccinations in Abermain
Vaccinations in Abermain are available at our pharmacy on Cessnock Road without a GP visit or an appointment. Qualified pharmacists give each vaccine in a safe, professional setting.
Walk-in vaccinations in Abermain on weekdays
Come in any weekday while the store is open, and a pharmacist immuniser will see you when one is available. If you would rather lock in a time, or want to know whether a vaccine suits you before you come, call to book or enquire. The pharmacy also opens on Saturday mornings, but walk-in vaccinations run Monday to Friday, so plan a weekday visit.
Vaccines we give
- Flu VaccineYour yearly influenza shot, from 2 years of age.
- Covid VaccineCOVID-19 doses and the new free eligibility groups.
- Shingles VaccineA two-dose Shingrix course for adults.
- RSV VaccineFor older adults, and in pregnancy to shield newborns.
- Whooping Cough VaccinedTpa for pregnancy, carers of babies and booster doses.
- Pneumonia VaccinePneumococcal conjugate vaccine for people 18 and over.
- Meningococcal VaccineACWY and B vaccines against meningococcal disease.
- Travel VaccinationsPlanning the vaccines you need before a trip overseas.
- Hepatitis A & B VaccineProtection for travel, work and other risk situations.
- Typhoid VaccineInjectable or oral options before you travel.
- Polio VaccineBoosters for trips to countries where polio circulates.
- Rabies VaccinePre-exposure doses only, ahead of any possible contact.
- Japanese Encephalitis VaccineFor mosquito-borne risk overseas and in parts of NSW.
Age limits and who we refer on
Each vaccine has its own minimum age under the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards. Flu vaccines start from 2 years, most others from 5 years, HPV from 9 years, and shingles and pneumococcal vaccines from 18 years. Some vaccines also carry health requirements, so speak to the pharmacist first.
NSW Health requires a pharmacist immuniser to refer you to a medical practitioner in certain cases: a reason you should not be vaccinated, a severe reaction to an earlier vaccine, or complex medical needs they cannot fully address.
Many vaccines are free for eligible people under the National Immunisation Program or a NSW program, while the rest are charged. Each vaccine page sets out the free groups. For the cost of a vaccine, call us on (02) 4930 4442.
HPV vaccine
Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cancers and genital warts. A single free dose is offered to adolescents aged about 12 to 13, mainly through the Year 7 school vaccination program, and anyone who missed it can catch up for free up to age 26. HPV vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy.
MMR vaccine
MMR combines protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles is a very contagious viral infection, and the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends vaccination for adolescents and adults born during or since 1966 who have not had two MMR doses. Children have their free doses at 12 and 18 months, before they reach the pharmacy age limit of 5 years. NSW Health also funds a pharmacy dose for unvaccinated people born during or after 1966. MMR contains a small amount of live virus, so it is not given in pregnancy or to people who are immunocompromised.
Meningococcal vaccine
Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but it can make someone extremely unwell very quickly. Two separate vaccines protect against it: MenACWY covers the A, C, W and Y serogroups, and MenB covers some serogroup B strains, so one does not replace the other. The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends a single MenACWY dose for healthy teenagers aged 15 to 19, and both vaccines for anyone from 6 weeks of age who wants to lower their risk. Free groups, travel rules and booster advice are on our meningococcal vaccine page.
Before and after the needle
What to bring: valid ID, your Medicare card if applicable, and your vaccination history.
Plan to stay about 15 minutes afterwards: the Handbook asks providers to observe people for at least 15 minutes in case of an immediate reaction. Your dose is then recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register, where you can later download your immunisation history.
Vaccination questions
Can I still be vaccinated if I feel unwell?
A cold or other minor illness is usually no reason to wait. The Handbook advises putting vaccines off if you have a fever of 38.5°C or higher or are acutely unwell, so tell the pharmacist how you feel first.
What side effects are normal afterwards?
Pain, redness, itching, swelling or burning where the needle went in are most common; the Handbook says they are generally mild and usually last 1 to 2 days. Low-grade fever and tiredness are also common. Seek medical advice if a reaction is unexpected, serious or does not go away.
Which vaccines are recommended in pregnancy?
Flu, whooping cough and RSV vaccines are free during pregnancy under the National Immunisation Program, and the RSV vaccine is recommended at 28 to 36 weeks. Our whooping cough and RSV vaccine pages explain the timing for each.
Not sure which vaccine you need?
Ask a pharmacist at Abermain Chemist on your next weekday visit, or ring ahead to check someone is free to vaccinate you. If you are due for more than one vaccine, say so at the counter: the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, for example, can be given on the same day.