Online bookings are now available for Mildura Rural City Council's monthly immunisation clinics in Mildura, Irymple, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Ouyen, Underbool and Murrayville.
Council provides free immunisations for the National Immunisation Schedule for Infants and Children, influenza for adults over 65-years-old and children under 5-years-old, and any catch-up immunisations for the secondary school program.
Previously bookings for these clinics could only be made by telephone. Clinics from November 2023 onwards can be booked online.
Community Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Councillor Troy Bailey said the introduction of an online booking system would make scheduling and managing immunisation appointments easier for the community and Council's dedicated team of Immunisation nurses.
"In the last financial year our nurses administered more than 16,000 immunisations, and the demand for this service is continually growing," Cr Bailey said.
"Implementing online bookings means residents can make immunisation appointments in their own time, and not have to call during business hours."
An online booking system was one of the top requests in a survey of immunisation clients conducted earlier this year.
"We want to make the process as simple as possible for families to make these important appointments and ensure they're getting the immunisations they require."
The new online system is a statewide Central Immunisation Records Victoria (CIRV) software program, developed by the Victorian Department of Health, with the ability for appointments to be made up to eight weeks in advance.
Online bookings can be made for immunisation clinics scheduled for November 2023 onwards.
Bookings and details of upcoming immunisation clinics can be made by visiting mildura.vic.gov.au/Immunisations
Community members will be required to set up an account in the CIRV portal before being able to make a booking.
People unable to make online bookings are encouraged to call Council on 03 5018 8100.
