Travel | BCG Consults
FITS Travel Medicine clinics are held multiple days a week across two metropolitan sites:
Malvern
- Travel consults & vaccines (adults & children)
- BCG vaccine consults
Cabrini Mother & Baby Centre – Area E, Level 2, 183 Wattletree Rd, Malvern, VIC 3144
Narre Warren
- Travel consults & vaccines (adults & children)
- BCG vaccine consults
547 Princes Highway, Narre Warren, VIC 3805
We also have satellite clinics available in:
Bendigo
Travel & BCG vaccine consults (children only)
* Please ensure you book early to avoid missing out, as appointment availability can be limited during peak periods, and read all the instructions below prior to booking.
*Travel appointments for adults or for children NOT requiring BCG vaccine may be available earlier and on demand – please contact us directly via our live chat if you need an earlier appointment.
How do I book?
Read our BCG FAQ to understand what to expect before and after your child’s BCG vaccination. This information is available in more than 15 languages.
Use the online booking widget above to select your appointment
Select the appropriate clinic location:
Malvern – for travel consults & vaccines (adult, children), BCG vaccine
Narre Warren – for travel consults & vaccines (children), BCG vaccine
Bendigo – for travel consults & vaccines (children), BCG vaccine
Attach your referral to the booking form, or ask your GP to:
send a secure e-referral to unyokedh (Healthlink)
fax a referral to (03) 7050 3780
Complete deposit payment online using your credit card.
You will receive a custom form to complete some extra details to streamline your appointment – please complete this to finalise your appointment.
Booking FAQs
For all travel consults, a non-refundable booking fee of $50 per person is payable at time of online appointment booking to secure your appointment.
A valid referral is needed in order to ensure you receive a Medicare rebate from your travel medicine/immunisation consultation. The out of pocket cost (gap) for the consultation after receiving your Medicare rebate is approximately $150.
If your child requires a BCG vaccination, the cost of the vaccine is included within the consultation fee. Other travel vaccinations such as typhoid, hepatitis A, yellow fever, rabies or Japanese encephalitis will incur additional fees.
If your child has travelled overseas or been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) before, they may require a skin or Mantoux test prior to BCG vaccination. Please book an appointment on MONDAY at our Malvern clinic to ensure that your child can be appropriately assessed by our team.
If a Mantoux test is required, you will need to return for a repeat visit for delayed BCG vaccine administration (minimum of 48 hours after initial appointment) to allow for the Mantoux test to be read and to determine if the BCG vaccine can be safely administered.
If you are booking for more than one child (eg. siblings), please make a separate appointment for each child. Any additional family members will be bulk billed (no out of pocket cost) for the consultation with a valid referral. However, a booking fee per child still applies.
BCG & TB FAQs
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is an infection cause by a bacteria (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis). Worldwide, tuberculosis causes more deaths than any other infectious disease. It is spread between people by breathing in the bacteria through the air from someone who is infected. Children and infants are at high risk of becoming unwell following exposure to tuberculosis.
To read more about tuberculosis and BCG please visit here.
Does my child need a BCG vaccine?
According to Australian Government Department of Health recommendations, newborns and children under 5 years of age who will be travelling to or living in countries or areas with a high rate of tuberculosis should receive a BCG vaccine.
BCG protects children from the more severe forms of tuberculosis. BCG is a routine immunisation in many countries at birth (e.g. India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia).
When is the best time to have BCG before travel?
BCG vaccination should ideally occur at least 1 month before departure. This will allow the body to develop an immune response to provide protection prior to travel. If you are thinking of travelling overseas in the future, you can consider giving BCG to your child soon after birth due to extended waitlists.
What if I am leaving for travel prior to one month?
Please complete the booking form and contact the FITS team to discuss potential options. Where possible, appointments are offered in some circumstances to families who are leaving for overseas imminently.
Will my child need a mantoux test (also known as Tuberculin-Skin-Test or TST) prior to a BCG?
A mantoux test may be recommended in older children, or if they have had previous travel overseas, prior to giving a BCG. This is to check for past exposure to tuberculosis. Discussion about various options with FITS travel medicine specialists is recommended.
What is involved with a mantoux test?
A mantoux test is a two-step test. After administration of the mantoux, the child will need to return for a reading 2 – 4 days after administration. If negative, a BCG can be safely administered.
If your child’s Mantoux test is positive, our FITS team will have a discussion about next steps. This is likely to include further investigation and consultation to evaluate whether your child has been exposed to tuberculosis.
Do I need to get a booster dose of BCG for my child each time I travel?
There is currently no recommendation for booster doses of BCG.
What about other travel vaccines?
Your travel health specialist will generally recommend additional vaccines to BCG. This will depend on the age and destination of travel. The recommended vaccines may include Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Influenza vaccines. These vaccines are available at the FITS clinic. FITS is also an accredited NIP and Yellow Fever Vaccine provider.
Can the BCG be given with other vaccines?
Yes – the BCG can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Note: The BCG must be given at the same time, or 4 weeks apart from live vaccines, including the 12 and 18-month old National Immunisation Program scheduled vaccines (measles and chickenpox), or other live vaccines such as yellow fever vaccine.
If your child is due for 12 or 18-month vaccines, FITS travel medicine specialists NOT administering them prior to your appointment. The FITS team is able to provide these vaccines at the same time as your BCG appointment at no additional charge.
How is the vaccine administered?
The vaccine is administered into the left arm intradermally, or under the skin layer. This is different to most other routine vaccines that your child may have received previously.
What are the side effects of the BCG vaccination?
Overall, the BCG is a safe vaccine with relatively few side effects. It is uncommon to have low-grade fever.
The main “side effect” that families often notice is a small scar, which may take up to 3-4 months after the immunisation to fully form and heal. This usually does not cause discomfort to the child, although there may be some swelling at the injection site in the first few weeks after the immunisation.
Your FITS travel medicine specialist will go through all potential side effects with you at your immunisation appointment.
What should I expect following the BCG vaccination?
Following the vaccination, during the first week to 6 weeks, a small blister may appear where the injection was given. After the first 6 weeks to 12 weeks, the blister may turn into a small weeping sore – this is an expected reaction and should not cause pain or affect movement of the arm. Scar formation may take up to 3-4 months in total from time of injection.
How do I care for the vaccination site?
It is important to keep the site dry and clean. If a sore develops, cover the site with gauze. Do not use sticking plasters, ointments or oils directly on the site.
Should I give my child paracetamol before or after their BCG vaccination?
Paracetamol is not recommended before or at the time of your child’s BCG vaccination. It is also not recommended after the vaccination unless your child develops a low grade fever.
