Vaccination at the University of Melbourne

Information about COVID-19 vaccination for students, staff and the broader University community.

COVID-19 vaccinations are free for everyone. You may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination booster if you are aged 18+ and haven’t had a booster or COVID-19 infection in the past 6 months.

Use this service finder to find a vaccination provider near you.

University of Melbourne position

The University does not require evidence of vaccination in order to access campus,* however, vaccination is still the best way to reduce your risk of severe illness, so please keep up-to-date with your vaccinations and book in for a booster if you are due.

* There are some circumstances under government legislation and in some host workplaces where vaccination may still be required, further information is provided below.

We strongly encourage all members of our University community to stay up to date with their vaccinations, and we will continue to provide advice, information and resources to support our community to stay informed.

Public health experts continue to recommend vaccination to prevent infection, transmission, severe illness and death due to COVID-19 for all Australians from 5 years of age, and children aged 6 months to 4 years with additional risk factors.

Vaccination is part of a comprehensive public health response at the University. We have many measures in place to minimise COVID-19 transmission on campus, including making discounted masks and rapid antigen tests available to students and staff, enhanced infection control, cleaning and hygiene, ventilation, and comprehensive health guidance .

Your decision – and those of your friends, family and colleagues – to get vaccinated will determine our future as a resilient community.

Mandatory vaccination requirements

Victorian Government legislation requires anyone working on site in certain healthcare industries/settings to show evidence of COVID-19 vaccination (or valid exemption) to their employer to continue working on site.

Under Directions from the Secretary of the Department of Health, proprietors of specified healthcare services and establishments are required to ensure that healthcare workers they employ or engage are fully vaccinated or fully vaccinated (boosted) against COVID-19, other than in certain limited circumstances.

Some healthcare workers also need to show evidence of influenza vaccination (or valid exemption) to continue working on site.

While these Directions do not apply to students and volunteers on site in these settings, a health service may reasonably require that students and/or volunteers meet vaccination requirements before commencing roles or placements within the setting at their discretion.

In addition, some host workplaces may require vaccination to comply with their local vaccination policy under OH&S laws.

What you need to do if you work in a setting with a vaccination requirement

  • All workers
    (incl. graduate researcher operating as worker, student on placement)
    • Download your evidence such as your COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate and/or Immunisation History Statement from myGov showing all doses received
    • Follow the instructions below for University staff or Students as appropriate
    • Carry your vaccination evidence with you when leaving home
  • University staff

    COVID-19 vaccination requirement

    • Open this ServiceNow form
    • Select COVID-19 from the Vaccination Type dropdown selection list
    • Select Fully Vaccinated (Boosted) or Exempt from the Vaccination Status dropdown selection list
    • Enter vaccinated or exempted date as shown on your COVID Vaccination Certificate
    • Provide additional information as needed to support exemption
    • Provide consent and attach certificate

    Detailed step-by-step instructions are available in KB0026312 (staff login required)

    Influenza vaccination requirement

    • Open this ServiceNow form
    • Select Influenza from the Vaccination Type dropdown selection list
    • Select Vaccinated or Exempt from the Vaccination Status dropdown selection list
    • Enter vaccinated or exempted date as shown on your Immunisation History Statement
    • Provide consent and attach certificate
  • Students
    (eg graduate researcher operating as worker, student on placement)

    COVID-19 vaccination requirement

    • Instructions specific to your circumstances will be sent to you when needed and you can submit your evidence via SONIA
    • Graduate researchers – instructions specific to your circumstances will be sent to you when needed and you can submit your evidence via this ServiceNow form

    Influenza vaccination requirement

    • Students on placement – instructions specific to your circumstances will be sent to you when needed and you can submit your evidence via SONIA
    • Graduate researchers – instructions specific to your circumstances will be sent to you when needed and you can submit your evidence via this ServiceNow form

Carry your vaccination information with you

You should always carry evidence of your vaccination information, to confirm your eligibility to be on site if asked. That evidence can include:

Grounds for exemption

  • COVID-19 vaccination requirement

    You may receive a medical exemption if you are unable to be vaccinated because you:

    • have a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccines, or
    • have an acute medical illness, including COVID-19 infection – exemption for up to 4 months (or sooner if the medical practitioner specifies an earlier date)

    An authorised medical practitioner must register your exemption with the Australian Immunisation Register to be valid.

  • Influenza vaccination requirement

    You may receive a medical exemption if you are unable to be vaccinated because you have a medical contraindication to seasonal influenza vaccine as defined by Australian Immunisation Handbook. You must submit a written statement from an authorised medical practitioner outlining contraindication.

    A health service may also grant an exemption from the requirement to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza to a current healthcare worker employed or engaged by the health service if the health service:

    • has conducted a risk assessment and is satisfied that it is safe to permit the person to perform their role as a healthcare worker at the health service, and has determined the basis on which it is safe for them to perform that role; AND
    • is satisfied that removing the person from their current role would result in a serious risk to service delivery and patient care.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated: 11 December 2023

We will update these questions and answers over time as needed.

Questions in the general category apply to all campus users, including students and staff.

Skip to specific questions for: Students Staff

General

  • What is the University's position on vaccination?

    You do not need to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination to access campus*, however, vaccination is still the best way to reduce your risk of severe illness, so please keep up to date with your vaccinations and book in for a booster if you are eligible and due.

    We strongly encourage all members of the University community to stay up to date with their vaccinations, and we will continue to provide advice, information and resources to support our community to stay informed on this.

    * Government legislation may require staff or students to be vaccinated to work or study in specific circumstances. Where this applies, individuals must continue to comply with those requirements. Similarly, where staff or students are undertaking a University activity in a third-party setting, they must comply with any University requirements as well as the requirements of that third-party setting.

  • What areas/settings require vaccination at the University?

    The University of Melbourne operates across many settings and industries and complies with all relevant public health orders, including those mandating vaccinations for certain cohorts, activities or settings.

    Currently, if you over 18 and work in the following settings you are required to have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (or valid exemption) to continue working on site:

    • public health services
    • public hospitals
    • denominational hospitals
    • private hospitals and day procedure centres
    • ambulance services
    • patient transport services that are engaged or engaged by a health service or Ambulance Victoria
    • residential aged care services operated by public health services

    In addition, some host workplaces may require vaccination to comply with their local vaccination policy under OH&S laws.

    Please see this guidance for more information.

  • Are students and staff undertaking activity off campus required to provide vaccination information? (eg participating in fieldwork, education at hospitals, placement at a healthcare facility)

    Government legislation may require staff or students to be vaccinated to work or study in specific circumstances. Where this applies, individuals must continue to comply with those Orders.

    Similarly, where staff or students are undertaking a University activity in a third-party setting, they must comply with any University requirements as well as the requirements of their host organisation.

  • Can I ask someone if they are vaccinated?

    Unless you work in a setting that requires vaccination as set out in government legislation (eg healthcare settings) or additional measures approved by the University’s Pandemic Response Group, you cannot ask someone to disclose their vaccination status. Except for those settings, the University of Melbourne does not require people to provide proof of vaccination to attend campus or participate in University activities.

    Asking for someone’s vaccination status, unless it clearly required by the University or government legislation, is a breach of privacy.

    Everyone should be encouraged to take steps they feel are appropriate and makes them comfortable on campus. This may include accessing rapid antigen tests (RATs) and masks which are available to students and staff across all campuses.

  • If I've recently had COVID-19, how long do I need to wait to get vaccinated or have a booster?

    You should talk to your GP or other qualified health professional to discuss your personal circumstances.

    As a general guide, anyone aged 18+ may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination booster if they haven’t had a booster or infection in the past six months. Find out if you are eligible for a booster.

    While having COVID-19 will create some immune response against future infection, studies have shown that having COVID-19 may not be as protective as being vaccinated against COVID-19.

  • Do I need to have a vaccine booster?

    A booster dose will ensure that the protection you have against serious illness or death from COVID-19 remains strong and lasts longer, helping protect you and those around you.

    The University strongly recommends that you receive your booster dose(s) as soon as you are eligible to maximise protection.

    As a general guide, anyone aged 18+ may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination booster if they haven’t had a booster or infection in the past six months. Find out if you are eligible for a booster.

    In Victoria, workers in some health-related sectors must have a third dose (at minimum) to continue to work on site.

Students

  • I am concerned about getting vaccinated. What should I do?

    To help you make an informed decision, you should contact a trusted medical practitioner.

    Students can also book an appointment with a GP at the University's Health Service if they have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccination. See the Health Service website for details, including advice about services for students who are in and outside of Australia.

  • I live alone and am concerned that there'll be no one to help me if the vaccination makes me feel unwell. What should I do?

    If you are in Australia, the University can offer support if you don't have friends or family who can easily check in on your after you receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Once you've made your vaccination appointment, and before getting vaccinated, contact the University Health Service COVID-19 Hotline and we can organise for someone from our Health Service to call you after your injection.

Staff

  • How is the University supporting staff to get vaccinated?

    Staff may access existing flexible work arrangements to attend medical appointments, including to get vaccinated, during business hours if required and should discuss their individual arrangements with their manager if they require time away from work for medical reasons.

    You can get vaccinated at many pharmacies and general practitioners.

  • I'm vaccinated but aware that I can still spread COVID-19 to others. I'm concerned that I live with a person who has a high risk medical condition. Will I be compelled to attend campus?

    We will continue to manage such circumstances in a compassionate, sensible and reasonable manner on a case by case basis. There are no changes to our usual practices for assisting staff with their carer’s responsibilities.