If you can’t have a COVID-19 vaccination for medical reasons

If you can’t get any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines for medical reasons, this will be recorded on your immunisation history statement and COVID-19 digital certificate.

We call this a medical contraindication. This means you can’t have any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Your doctor will need to update your record on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to say you have a medical contraindication.

You can then use your statement or certificate as proof of your vaccination status, if it’s needed.

If you’re recovering from a severe illness, your medical contraindication may only be valid for a few months. In this case, your COVID-19 digital certificate will show a ‘valid to’ date.

After this time, you’ll need to either:

  • check with your doctor to see if you can now get a COVID-19 vaccine
  • ask your doctor to update your status on the AIR if your medical contraindication is still valid.

Check what some of the medical reasons are for getting an exemption from having a vaccine and who can provide this exemption.

Page last updated: 3 March 2022.
QC 61275