COVID-19 Vaccine Exemptions

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Here are some FAQs about who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine exemption.

 

Who can grant an exemption?

Only specific medical practitioners are authorised to grant medical exemptions. These are:

  • General practice registrars on an approved 3GA training placement
  • Pediatricians
  • Public health physicians
  • Infectious disease physicians
  • Clinical immunologists
  • General practitioners as defined by the Health Insurance Act 1973 as.
    • on Medicare’s Vocation Register of General Practitioners
    • a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
    • a fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

 

What is a medical exemption?

General guidance around medical circumstances which qualify as medical exemptions form immunisation
can be found on the Services Australia webpage. This resource also provides guidance on what does not
count as a medical exemption.

 

Current reasons for a person to not receive Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) are:

  • Anaphylaxis after a previous dose.
  • Anaphylaxis to any component of the vaccine, including polysorbate 80
    • Please note anaphylaxis to polysorbate 80, which is also included in many other
      vaccines, is rare
  • History of capillary leak syndrome.
  • Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia occurring after a previous dose
  • Any other serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of Vaxzevria (and without another
    cause identified) that has been reported to Queensland Health as an Adverse Event Following
    Immunisation (AEFI)

 

Current reasons for a person to not receive Comirnaty (Pfizer) or Spikevax (Moderna) are:

  • Anaphylaxis to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Spikevax or Comirnaty) is a
    contraindication to further doses of either vaccine.
  • Anaphylaxis to any component of the vaccine, including polyethylene glycol (PEG).
    • Please note anaphylaxis to PEG is extremely rare
  • Myocarditis and/or pericarditis attributed to a previous dose of either Comirnaty or Spikevax.
  • Any other serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of Comirnaty or Spikevax (and
    without another cause identified) that has been reported to Queensland Health as an Adverse Event
    Following Immunisation (AEFI).