Immunisation
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Immunisation schedule
Council provides a free comprehensive immunisation program delivered by registered nurses according to the National Immunisation Schedule.
Sessions for children are conducted at a range of venues each month, excluding public holidays. Parents should give informed consent and discuss with a Maternal and Child Health Nurse before proceeding with an immunisation.
2013 School Immunisation Sessions
National Immunisation Program Schedule
Information fact sheets in English and other languages, regarding the vaccines administered under the National Immunisation Schedule are available from The Victorian Department of Health.
Eligibility
To be eligible to access the Free vaccination program Clients must meet the following Criteria:
- Hold a Medicare card or be eligible to hold a Medicare card and all asylum seekers
- Hold Australian citizenship
- Hold a permanent visa or have applied for a permanent visa
The Department of Health sets the Criteria for the use of Government Vaccine. The criteria can be viewed on their website.
Immunisation Updates
- In July 2011 the National Immunisation Schedule changed to allow a child’s first vaccinations to commence at 6 weeks of age.
The pneumococcal vaccine has been upgraded to include 13 strains of pneumococcal bacteria providing a broader protection than previously. This vaccine forms the normal course for babies at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months.
Coming from Overseas
If you are a resident in the City of Casey and have recently arrived from overseas and your children meet the Criteria for the use of Government Vaccines, your children may need to obtain catch up vaccinations to ensure that they are fully immunised to the National Immunisation Program.
Prior to attending a Council Immunisation session you are requested to make an appointment with our Immunisation Service staff to go through your children’s immunisation records. To make an appointment contact the City of Casey on telephone 9705 5200.
International Students
Residents of the City of Casey that are from overseas and are in Australian as International Students are not eligible to access the free vaccination program.
Residents on Student Visas must contact their General Practitioner to discuss vaccinations. The costs of vaccinations can be recovered through private health insurance that is required to be held by international students.
Childhood Immunisation History Statements
In the past if a child had not been immunised exclusively by Council, we would not hold their complete immunisation history. If you have had your child immunised at a number of locations it is recommended that you contact the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). ACIR will then send out the immunisation history to the parent.
Parents now have a number of options available.
Effective 1st July 2012, any parent wishing to obtain a copy of their child’s Immunisation History will need to pay a fee of $40. Should Council be unable to provide the child’s Immunisation History, a refund of $20 will be provided.
Parents can now access their children's ACIR records from Medicare offices. Immunisation History Statements can be provided on the spot for children aged 0-7 years. This will not affect the routine statements Council sends at 1, 2 and 4-5 years of age.
Medicare Australia has introduced a new way for parents to access a Child History Statement.
An online request facility is now available on the Medicare Australia website, enabling parents to access their children's immunisation details over the internet. Parents need to register for a password which will allow them secure access to the Medicare Australia website, from which they can view their child's history statement on screen. Customers can only access their own information. The public will also be able to use their secure access to check their Medicare Safety Net balance, and status on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
To register, the parent will be required to enter their own Medicare Number, Reference Number and their Date of Birth. A password will then be sent to the applicant by mail.
Australian Childhood Immunisation Register Online
Immunisation queries should still be directed to ACIR and/or immunisation providers eg Councils or GPs, as Medicare staff will have limited immunisation knowledge.
***Please note these methods are to obtain a history not immunisation advice. To locate your nearest Medicare Office www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/where_to_find_us/index.htm
School Entry Certificates
It is a legal requirement to provide a school entry certificate upon enrolment to a primary school in Victoria. Upon completion of the 4 year old vaccinations, a History Statement will automatically be sent to you from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). The bottom of the statement should read "This child has received all vaccines required by 5 years of age". This then becomes your School Entry Certificate.
If you have not received or have lost your History Statement, call ACIR on 1800 653 809 or ACIR online services.
Further Information regarding the Immunisation Program
For information about immunisation, please call the Environmental Health Unit or talk to your City of Casey’s Maternal and Child Health Nurse or the Environmental Health Team alternatively you can contact the Department of Health, Immunisation Program on 1300 882 008.
As of 2013 the Hep B vaccination will no longer be provided to Year 7 students.
Childhood Immunisation History Statements please add additional text:
Effective 1st July 2012, any parent wishing to obtain a copy of their child’s Immunisation History will need to pay a fee of $20 for a search fee of vaccines given and a further $20 for a Immunisation History Certificate.
Adolescent Immunisation Program
Adolescents are mostly vaccinated through secondary school-based programs conducted by local council immunisation services. Some individual circumstances mean adolescents may attend their GP for vaccines.
See the table for the scheduled free vaccine, the age of eligibility and the school year level the vaccines are offered.
| Vaccine | Eligibility in a school-based program | Eligibility in the community setting |
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Chicken pox | Year 7 | 12-13 years |
| Hepatitis B | N/A | 12-13 years – 2013 only |
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | Year 9 –boys only in 2013 & 2014 | 14-15 years (boys only) – 2013 & 2014 |
| Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertursis (Whopping Cough) | Year 10 | 15-16 years |
Detailed information regarding the school-based vaccines is presented below (note the exception for hepatitis B vaccine).
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil®)
This vaccine is offered to all Year 7 students (the program has been extended to boys from 2013). Students are given three injections with two months between the first and second dose and four months between the second and third dose. A catch-up program will also be available for boys in Year 9 in 2013 and 2014 only.
Find out more at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/human-papillomavirus.htm
Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine (Varilrix®)
This vaccine is offered to all Year 7 students if they have never had the chickenpox disease or you are unsure if they have had the disease in the past. If an adolescent previously had a dose of the chickenpox vaccine, they should still receive another dose in Year 7 as a single injection.
Find out more at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/chickenpox-vaccination-year-seven-program.htm
Hepatitis B vaccine (H-BVax II Adult®)
From 2013, this vaccine will no longer be administered as part of the school-based program in Year 7 of secondary school as most Year 7 students will have had the vaccine when they were an infant. Year 7 students who have not completed a course of the hepatitis B vaccine can get the vaccine from their doctor or Council’s immunisation service for free in 2013 only.
Find out more at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/hepatitis-b-vaccine.htm
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (Boostrix®)
This vaccine is offered to all Year 10 students and protects against the three diseases in a single injection.
Find out more at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/adolescent-diphtheria.htm
The City of Casey Secondary School Immunisation Schedule is available below:
If your child is not at school or misses their vaccination on the schedule day, please contact the City of Casey to arrange for your child to be vaccinated.
Further Information regarding the Immunisation Program
For information about immunisation, please call the Environmental Health Unit or talk to your Maternal and Child Health Nurse on 9705 5200, alternatively you can contact the Department of Health, Immunisation Program on 1300 882 008.
- Immunisation - Department of Health
Vaccine safety – immunisation facts, common myths and more
- The Better Health Channel
Information regarding general health and immunisations. - Travelling overseas
Information for travelling overseas and locations of travel vaccine clinics - Medicare
Access to Medicare website.