The Holy Family Medical Centre in Dulwich Hill has begun notifying over 1,200 patients, including hundreds of children under the age of five, that vaccinations administered between December 2019 and July 2024 may have been less effective due to improper storage.
Among the affected patients, 394 children who received their first vaccinations under the age of five are now at risk of inadequate protection against serious diseases. A letter from the clinic, seen by Guardian Australia, revealed that an internal review in collaboration with Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit identified that some vaccines were not stored at the appropriate temperatures as outlined in the National Vaccination Storage Guidelines.
While the vaccines are not harmful, the clinic cautioned that they might not have been fully effective. “Receiving an ineffective vaccine is equivalent to not being vaccinated,” the clinic explained, stressing that patients remain vulnerable to diseases such as polio, hepatitis, measles, and whooping cough.
To mitigate the risk, revaccination has been recommended. A spokesperson for the Sydney Local Health District confirmed that revaccination will be offered at no cost, with a dedicated clinic set up at the practice starting 19 October to accommodate the high demand.
The Holy Family Medical Centre is privately operated, but the Central & Eastern Primary Health Network and Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit are stepping in to support the clinic during this process.
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