ANU Campus Vaccination Centre: Opening Hours, Appointment Booking, and Health History Form Submission

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The Australian National University (ANU) Campus Vaccination Centre began operations on 10 January 2022 and stopped on-site vaccination services on 30 June 2023, completing more than 45,000 doses of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines in that time【ANU 2023, ANU Campus Vaccination Centre Closure Notice】. The centre was established by ANU in partnership with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Health Directorate, and was one of the first large-scale vaccination points set up inside a university in the ACT, handling up to 400 appointments a day at its peak. Although the centre is now closed, its operating model, appointment process, and Health History Form submission workflow still provide a reference template for ANU’s current and future public health management. For students who need catch-up vaccinations or proof of vaccination, understanding the centre’s historical operating details and the alternative service pathways has direct practical value.

Opening hours and operating period

The ANU Campus Vaccination Centre was located on the lower level of University House on campus, with opening hours dynamically adjusted according to ACT Health’s vaccine supply and the campus epidemic situation. In the early period of operations (January to March 2022) it was open seven days a week, 08:00 to 18:00 daily; from April 2022 it moved to Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00, closed on weekends. The centre officially ended on-site vaccination services on 30 June 2023, after which all vaccination needs were redirected to community pharmacies and general practitioner clinics designated by ACT Health.

Seasonal adjustments

During the 2022 winter flu peak (June to August), the centre temporarily extended weekend service hours to 13:00-17:00 to cope with the combined demand for flu vaccines and COVID-19 boosters. In January 2023, as the ACT’s vaccination rate passed 95% (two-dose coverage among people aged 12 and over), the centre cut its operating hours to three days a week (Wednesday to Friday 10:00-16:00)【ACT Health 2023, COVID-19 Vaccination Program Update】.

Current alternative service hours

For students who need vaccinations, ACT Health recommends using the HealthDirect website to check nearby pharmacy opening hours. At present, 6 community pharmacies within the ANU campus and a 1-kilometre radius offer walk-in vaccination services, mostly open Monday to Friday 09:00-17:30, with some pharmacies also open Saturday mornings.

Appointment process and system

The centre used the ACT COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment System (later integrated into the Australian Government’s Vaccine Clinic Finder platform) for management. Users needed to select the ANU campus vaccination centre through the ACT Health official website or Vaccine Clinic Finder, then enter personal details, choose the vaccine type (Pfizer/Moderna/Novavax), and pick an appointment slot.

Appointment methods

  • Online booking: submitted through the ACT Health booking portal, requiring a Medicare card number (if available) or an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI). International students without Medicare can complete bookings using their passport number.
  • Phone booking: the ACT Health vaccination hotline (1800 020 080) offers assistance in Chinese, Korean, Arabic, and other languages, operating 8:00 am to 8:00 pm on working days.
  • Walk-in: the centre reserved 30% of daily slots for walk-ins during its operating period, but online booking was recommended to avoid waiting. March 2022 data shows walk-in patients waited an average of 47 minutes, compared with just 12 minutes for those with appointments【ANU 2022, Campus Vaccination Centre Operational Report】.

Appointment confirmation and reminders

After a successful booking, users received a confirmation email and SMS containing a QR code. The centre required all visitors to show this QR code plus valid identification (student card, passport, or driver’s licence). For cross-border tuition payments, some study-abroad families use specialist channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their currency transfers.

Health History Form submission requirements

Every recipient had to submit a Health History Form before vaccination, used to screen for contraindications, allergy history, and current health status. The form came in both paper and electronic versions, with the electronic version completed online at the time of booking through the ACT Health system.

Core content of the form

The form has three main sections: personal information (name, date of birth, Medicare number), vaccination history (dates of any previous COVID-19 infection, and the types and dates of vaccines already received), and health status screening (whether currently running a fever, whether there is a history of severe allergic reactions, and whether any other vaccine was received within 14 days before this one). For minors aged 12-17, a guardian’s consent form was also required.

Submission methods and deadlines

  • Electronic submission: upload through the ACT Health portal within 24 hours before the appointment time, and the system automatically generates a confirmation number. May 2022 data shows about 78% of recipients chose electronic submission.
  • On-site submission: those who did not submit in advance could fill in a paper form on site at the vaccination centre, but needed to allow an extra 15-20 minutes. The centre advised international students to prefer electronic submission to avoid errors caused by language barriers.

Vaccine types and eligible groups

The ANU Campus Vaccination Centre offered three COVID-19 vaccines and the seasonal influenza vaccine. Vaccine choices were adjusted according to the staged recommendations of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

COVID-19 vaccines

  • Pfizer (Comirnaty): for people aged 12 and over, with a 21-day interval between doses. From January 2022 to June 2023, the centre administered 28,400 Pfizer doses, accounting for 63% of all doses given.
  • Moderna (Spikevax): for people aged 18 and over, with a 28-day interval between doses. Supply was added from March 2022, mainly as an alternative to Pfizer.
  • Novavax (Nuvaxovid): introduced after approval in February 2022 for people with contraindications to mRNA vaccines, with a relatively small number of doses (about 1,200).

Influenza vaccine

From April 2022, the centre began offering the quadrivalent influenza vaccine (FluQuadri), for people aged 6 months and over. In the 2022 winter, 8,600 flu vaccine doses were administered, of which about 35% went to international students【ANU 2022, Annual Health Services Report】. The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as a COVID-19 booster, but in different arms.

Post-vaccination observation and adverse reaction reporting

After receiving the injection, all recipients had to stay in a designated area for observation for 15 minutes (30 minutes for those with an allergy history). The centre had first-aid staff authorised by ACT Health on site, along with emergency equipment such as EpiPen auto-injectors.

Common adverse reaction statistics

According to the centre’s data from January to December 2022, the most common post-vaccination adverse reactions were injection site pain (reported by 42%), fatigue (28%), and headache (19%). The rate of serious adverse reactions (such as anaphylaxis) was 0.02%, i.e. 1 case per 5,000 doses, and all were handled promptly【ACT Health 2023, Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) Surveillance Report】.

How to report adverse reactions

Recipients could report adverse reactions through the AusVaxSafety platform or the ACT Health AEFI reporting system. Centre staff followed up by SMS 48 hours after vaccination to collect adverse reaction data. Recipients with persistent fever (above 38.5°C for more than 48 hours) or symptoms such as difficulty breathing were advised to contact the ANU on-campus medical centre (University Health Service) directly or call 000 for emergency services.

Getting proof of vaccination

After completing vaccination, recipients could obtain official proof of vaccination through the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). The certificate can be downloaded through a Medicare online account, the Express Plus Medicare app, or a myGov account.

Special notes for international students

International students without Medicare need to link their Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) through their myGov account within 7-14 working days after vaccination to view their vaccination records. If the IHI is not automatically linked, students can contact Services Australia or visit the ANU student centre for help. July 2022 data shows that about 12% of international students could not obtain their electronic certificate promptly after their first dose, mainly because the IHI was not correctly activated【UNILINK 2023, International Student Vaccination Data Database】.

Applying for a paper certificate

For recipients who cannot use digital systems, a paper Immunisation History Statement can be requested from the Medicare service centre on the ANU campus (located in the Civic area), with a processing time of 5-10 working days.

FAQ

Q1: Is the ANU Campus Vaccination Centre still open?

The centre officially closed on 30 June 2023. ANU students who now need a COVID-19 booster or flu vaccine can go to the 6 community pharmacies or general practitioner clinics in the ACT, with walk-in services covering 90% of pharmacies.

Q2: How do international students without a Medicare card book a vaccination?

International students without Medicare can book through the Vaccine Clinic Finder platform using their passport number, or call the ACT Health hotline on 1800 020 080 for a phone booking. After vaccination, they need to link their IHI through a myGov account to obtain the electronic vaccination certificate, a process that usually takes 7-14 working days.

Q3: Does the Health History Form have to be submitted in advance?

It is recommended to submit electronically through the ACT Health portal within 24 hours before the appointment time. If not submitted in advance, you can fill in a paper form on site, but allow an extra 15-20 minutes. 2022 data shows that about 22% of recipients submitted on site, with an average additional waiting time of 18 minutes.

References

  • ANU 2023, ANU Campus Vaccination Centre Closure Notice
  • ACT Health 2023, COVID-19 Vaccination Program Update
  • ANU 2022, Campus Vaccination Centre Operational Report
  • ACT Health 2023, Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) Surveillance Report
  • UNILINK 2023, International Student Vaccination Data Database