health information grandparent as carers

All vaccines that are routinely recommended for your child are provided free of charge.

The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register records information about immunisations given to children under the age of 7 years.

For more information about immunisation visit immunise.health.gov.au or call
1800 671 811.

CHILDHOOD IMMUNISATION

What is immunisation?

Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community. Immunisation uses the body’s natural defence mechanism - the immune response - to build resistance to specific infections. Immunisation helps children stay healthy by preventing serious infections.

NATIONAL IMMUNISATION PROGRAM SCHEDULE
(valid from 1 July 2007)

AGE	DISEASE IMMUNISED AGAINST
Birth	Hepatitis B (hepB) a
2 months	Hepatitis B (hepB) b Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTPa) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) c,d Inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) Pneumococcal conjugate (7vPCV) Rotavirus
4 months	Hepatitis B (hepB) b Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTPa) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) c,d Inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) Pneumococcal conjugate (7vPCV) Rotavirus
6 months	Hepatitis B (hepB) b Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTPa) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) c Inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV) Pneumococcal conjugate (7vPCV) e Rotavirus j
12 months	Hepatitis B (hepB) b Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) d Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Meningococcal C (MenCCV)
12-24 months	Hepatitis A (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high risk areas) f
18 months	Varicella (VZV)
18-24 months	Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high risk areas) g Hepatitis A (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in high risk areas)
4 years	Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (DTPa) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) Inactivated poliomyelitis (IPV)
10-13 years h	Hepatitis B (hepB) Varicella (VZV)
12-13 years i	Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
15-17 years i	Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (dTpa)
15-49 years	Influenza (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people medically at-risk) Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people medically at-risk)
50 years and over	Influenza (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV) (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
65 years and over	Influenza Pneumococcal polysaccharide (23vPPV)

*Note: Additional vaccines are funded for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in NT, WA, SA and QLD.

Footnotes to National Immunisation Program Schedule
a Hepatitis B vaccine should be given to all infants as soon as practicable after birth. The greatest
benefit is if given within 24 hours, and must be given within 7 days.
b Total of three doses of hepB required following the birth dose, at either 2m, 4m and 6m or at 2m,
4m and 12m.
c Give a total of 4 doses of Hib vaccine (2m, 4m, 6m and 12m) if using PRP-T Hib containing vaccines.
d Use PRP-OMP Hib containing vaccines in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in areas of
higher risk (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia) with a dose at
2m, 4m and 12m.
e Medical at-risk children require a fourth dose of 7vPCV at 12 months of age, and a booster dose of
23vPPV at 4 years of age.
f Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine are required for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living
in areas of higher risk (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia).
Contact your State or Territory Health Department for details.
g Contact your State or Territory Health Department for details.
h These vaccines are for one cohort only within this age range, and should only be given if there is no
prior history of disease or vaccination. Dose schedules may vary between jurisdictions. Contact your
State or Territory Health Department for details.
i This vaccine is for one cohort only within this age range. Contact your State or Territory Health
Department for details.
j Third dose of vaccine is dependent on vaccine brand used. Contact your State or Territory Health
department for details

Are all immunisations free?

All vaccines that are routinely recommended for your child are funded by the Australian Government and are provided free of charge. The following vaccines are provided free for all children:

Hepatitis B
Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Polio
Measles, mumps and rubella
Meningococcal C
Pneumococcal, and
Chickenpox.

Some additional vaccines are provided free of charge for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. There are some differences in the way the Government funded immunisation programs are administered in each State and Territory. You should consult your usual immunisation provider for eligibility requirements under these programs. Alternatively, you can contact the Queensland Health Immunisation Program (QHIP) on 07 3234 1500.

There are other vaccines available that are not funded by the National Immunisation Program. These are usually recommended for special circumstances, such as international travel or for people engaged in certain occupations. If you choose to immunise your child with a vaccine that is not funded by the Program, you should speak to your local doctor or immunisation clinic for further information. If you are unsure which vaccines are free, please check with your doctor, immunisation clinic, or telephone the Immunise Australia Information Line on 1800 671 811.

Where can I get immunised?

Immunisations can be obtained from immunisation clinics, general practitioners, some hospitals, local councils and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Are immunisations compulsory?

Immunisation is not compulsory but is highly recommended for all children. Some States and Territories require a record of a child’s immunisations to be presented when the child attends day care or starts school. This is so the day care centre or school knows which children are not immunised. If there is an outbreak in the day care centre or school, the children who are not immunised may be required to stay home to prevent them catching and spreading the disease.

Where should immunisations be recorded?

Every time a child is immunised, that information should be recorded in the Personal Health Record given to parents in the hospital or birth centre after a baby is born. It is important to keep these records as a reminder of when immunisations are due and to assist in checking which children in the family are immunised if there is an outbreak of disease. You may also need to show these records when your child starts school. The Personal Health Record and clinic records are completed by the doctor, nurse or health worker giving the immunisation.

How else can I keep track of my child’s immunisations?

The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR or Immunisation Register) records information about immunisations given to children under the age of 7 years who live in Australia. Children under 7 years of age enrolled in Medicare are automatically included on the Immunisation Register. If your child is not enrolled in Medicare they can be added when your doctor or immunisation provider sends the details of their immunisation to the Immunisation Register.

A statement of your child’s immunisation history will be sent to you when your child turns 1, 2 and 5 years of age. This provides a simple way of keeping track of your child’s immunisation history. The statement may also be used to prove your child’s immunisation status for certain family assistance payments.

Statements are sent to the most recent address recorded on the Immunisation Register, so it is important that you notify Medicare and your immunisation provider if you change address. You can request a statement at any time by visiting the Immunisation Register website (www.medicareaustralia.gov.au) or by calling the ACIR on 1800 653 809 (free call).

Your doctor or immunisation provider can also get information about your child’s vaccinations. This may be useful if your child has not been to that doctor or immunisation provider before, as the information will inform them which vaccinations are due.

IMMUNISATION AND YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR SOME GOVERNMENT BENEFITS

To help increase Australia’s immunisation rates a number of Government family assistance payments are only available for children who meet the immunisation requirements, that is, they are up to date with immunisation or have an exemption.

Child Care Benefit

The Child Care Benefit helps families with the cost of child care provided by approved services and registered carers. Your family needs to meet income and residency tests to receive the benefit. Children born on or after 1 January 1996, who are under 7 years of age, also need to be fully immunised (as recorded on the Immunisation Register) or have an exemption.

Maternity Immunisation Allowance

Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) is available for children born on or after 1 January 1998. It is paid after the child reaches 18 months of age and has either been fully immunised (as recorded on the Immunisation Register) or is exempt from immunisation. MIA is payable in addition to the Maternity Allowance paid after the child’s birth. Families do not have to pay for any vaccines in order to be eligible for family assistance payments. A family need only show that their child is fully immunised with vaccines that are currently provided free under the National Immunisation Program Schedule. For information regarding Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance, visit the Family Assistance Office located in Medicare offices, Centrelink Customer Service Centres and ATOaccess sites, phone 13 61 50 or visit the website at www.familyassist.gov.au.

What are the exemptions?

To receive these benefits without being fully immunised, your immunisation provider needs to certify that:

Your child has a medical reason not to have a particular vaccination;
Your child has had a disease and has a natural immunity; and
A particular vaccine is unavailable.

Or you can make a formal conscientious objection if you have a personal, philosophical, religious or medical belief that your child should not be immunised. You will need to ask your immunisation provider to sign a Conscientious Objection form. This form is available from Medicare offices or online at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.

Where can I get more information about immunisation?

For more information about immunisation visit the Immunise Australia website at http://immunise.health.gov.au or call the Immunise Australia Information Line on 1800 671 811.
For more information about the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, visit the Immunisation Register website at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au or call 1800 653 809.

The information above was provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing from the Understanding Childhood Immunisation booklet (2005 edition).