Q Fever Vaccination

Who is this vaccine for:

• Abattoir workers
• Vets/ Students
• Farmers
• Cat, Dog breeders
• People who handle cattle

1st Appointment

• Need to get information about need for the vaccine
• Get any information about previous Q-Fever infection or contact
• Explain process about Q-Fever vaccination
• Administration of Q-Fever Skin test
• Referral for blood test. (Blood tests MUST be done on the day of test)

2nd Appointment

• Checking the blood test results
• Check for any reaction at the site of administration of the vaccine
• Skin test MUST BE checked on the 7th day
• If the blood test as well as the skin test are negative, then 
• Administration of vaccine
• If the blood test was negative, but the skin test was partially positive, then would need a further skin test.
• If either blood test or skin test comes positive, then certified as immune.

About the vaccine Q-Vax

What is it?

Inactivated Coxiella Burnetti

How is it made?

It is a purified suspension of formalin inactivated Coxiella burnetti prepared from the Phase 1 Henzerling strain of the organism grown in the yolk sacs of embryonated eggs. Trace amounts ovalbumin (< 1 mcg) may also be present

Who MUST NOT have it?

• Anyone who has had laboratory confirmed Q-Fever infection
• Has positive or equivocal antibody when tested by serology
• Vaccinated
• Has anaphylaxis to eggs
• Immuno compromised

Side Effects

• Pain at injection site (48-95%)
• Redness over injection site (33-58%)
• Headache (43.9%)
• Tiredness (42.7%)
• Joint pain (24.6%)
• Vaccinated people can have severe injection site reaction as well as post Q-fever like symptoms lasting a few days

Q-Fever - The bug

Caused by a bacteria called Coxiella burnetii. The bacteria infects domestic and wild animals including cats, dogs, cattle, kangaroos and camels through ticks. The ticks excrete the bacteria in their faeces. Coxiella burnetti can infect humans by inhaling, eating (from handling contaminated objects) as well as through broken skin and mucosa. It can survive at 4oC for more than a month and can survive unto 600C. It can survive in air, soil and dust.

Q-Fever - The disease

People who have contracted Q-fever can have a spectrum of conditions from being totally unaware of the infection to severe flu like illness but can also affect liver (causing jaundice), affect the heart, cause severe pneumonia needing ICU care. Some people can also have long term illness leading to tiredness, weight loss as well as pain.

References

1. Seqirus, Q-Vax Q-Fever Skin Test (Aust R 100517 & 100518) - Product Information
2. Department of Health, Commonwealth of Australia Immunisation Handbook - Q-Fever
3. Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology 2005