Immunisation
immunise; immunize; immunisation; immunization; vaccine; vaccinate; vaccination; inject; injection; Australia; ACIR; register; needles; HPV; human; papilloma; papillomavirus; gardasil; cervical; cancer;
Contents
Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting your child and yourself against some diseases which can cause serious illnesses and sometimes death.
Also if your child is protected, he or she will not be able to pass the infection on to other people, especially very young babies who are not yet fully immunised.
Different states in Australia may have slightly different schedules as different vaccines may be used.
- In South Australia, the schedule used is available on the SA Health Immunsation site (SAICU)
- For information about the schedule for other states of Australia have a look at the National Immunisation Program Schedule
What immunisations are recommended?
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) recommends that Australian infants and children are immunised free of charge against the following diseases;
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough
- Poliomyelitis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Haemophilus influenza type b
- Chicken pox
- Hepatitis B
- Meningococcal C,
- Pneumococcal infections
- Rotavirus (for babies under 6 months old).
The Human papilloma virus vaccine is available free of charge to girls in high school and young women up to 26 years of age. For more information, click here
- It is recommended that some older children and some adults are also immunised against meningococcal C, pneumococcal infections, hepatitis A and influenza. While all Australians can be immunised against these diseases, the vaccines are only free for some high-risk groups.
- Several other vaccines, such as cholera are available to any person if needed (there will be a cost for these vaccines).
There are topics on this site about each of the illnesses that immunisation helps to prevent. See Related topics on the side bar of this topic.
Where can I have my child immunised?
Immunisations can be provided by your doctor, immunisation clinics, local councils, community child health nurses and by some hospitals.
Immunisation information for Australians
The Immunise Australia Program Internet site has information about the recommended immunisations
http://immunise.health.gov.au
The Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition (2008) is available in full on the Immunise Australia site
Immunisation calculator
The Immunisation Calculator uses the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule. It recommends doses of vaccine to be given at specific ages. If doses of vaccine are delayed or missed, the calculator will assist in providing a 'catch-up' schedule for future vaccine doses. Click on the image to go to the calculator.
Note: it does not deal with high-risk children. Talk to your doctor if you need more information about your child.
Reactions to immunisation
- After immunisations, some children may have a reaction. Most reactions, such as feeling unwell, being irritable, fever, and soreness around the injection area occur within 48 hours of having the immunisation. They are usually mild and do not last very long.
- If the child becomes obviously unwell it is probable that the child has a different health problem (eg a cold or other viral infection), and it may be wise to have the child checked by a doctor.
- Reactions to the MMR vaccine
- A reaction to the MMR vaccine may occur 5-12 days after the immunisation and may cause a mild fever, faint rash, head cold, runny nose, cough and/or puffy eyes due to the measles part of the vaccine.
- Swelling of the glands in the neck may happen about 3 weeks after the injection due to the mumps part of the vaccine.
- These reactions do not make the child infectious.
- Reactions do not usually last for more than 48 hours, and the following may help to relieve symptoms.
- Place a cold cloth on the injection site if it is red or swollen (do not place ice directly onto the skin).
- If the child has a fever or seems in pain, some paracetamol or ibuprofen may help.
- If the child is not eating as much as usual, offer some extra drinks (breast milk, formula or water).
- Many children need extra cuddling and comforting for a day or so.
Important Note
If your child has severe reactions to immunisation, or the reactions last for more than a couple of days, or if you are worried about it - see your doctor, or in South Australia only, call the Child and Youth Health Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (cost of a local call).
What is the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)?
From 1 January 1996, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (the Immunisation Register) began recording details of vaccinations given to children under the age of seven who live in Australia.
It provides you and health professionals with many benefits such as:
- an immunisation history statement
- documents to help with eligibility for some family payments
- the option of getting a copy of your child's immunisation details at any time
- the ability to track immunisation levels in Australia to assist health professionals monitor disease outbreaks.
For more information about the Immunisation Register
- Call the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register: 1800 653 809
- Email: acir@medicareaustralia.gov.au
- Access your child's immunisation history statement online via the Online Services page at https://www1.medicareaustralia.gov.au/ssl/acircirgcert
- If you need interpreting help call: TIS: 131 450 (Translating and Interpreting Service)
- TTY: 1800 552 152 (hearing impaired)
- Call the Department of Health & Ageing’s immunisation infoline: 1800 671 811.
How do I enrol my child on the Immunisation Register ?
- Children under seven years of age enrolled in Medicare are automatically included on the Immunisation Register.
- Children who are not eligible to enrol in Medicare can be added when a doctor or immunisation provider sends the details of vaccinations to the Immunisation Register.
How is information recorded on the Immunisation Register?
- Information about your child's vaccinations should be sent as soon as possible by the doctor or immunisation provider to ensure the Immunisation Register is up-to-date.
How will the Immunisation Register help me keep track of my child's vaccinations?
- An immunisation history statement will be sent to you when your child turns one, two and five years of age, or upon request. Information about your child's immunisation details recorded on the Immunisation Register and any immunisations that are missing for your child will be included on the statement.
- An immunisation history statement can be requested by calling the Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (free call) or by visiting the Medicare Australia Immunisation Register site
https://www1.medicareaustralia.gov.au/ssl/acircirgcert
- An immunisation history statement will be sent to the most recent address recorded on the Immunisation Register. To ensure you receive your child's statement, it is important to notify Medicare and your immunisation provider if you change your address.
Can my doctor or immunisation provider get a record of my child's immunisation history?
- Your doctor or immunisation provider can 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 they will then be able to decide what vaccinations are due.
Immunisation and family payments
Child Care benefit
Recent changes to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) rules mean that children born on or after 1/1/2005 will be considered overdue for their immunisations if they have not had the 4 year old vaccines by the time they turn 4 years and 1 month.
In these cases parents of children may receive a letter from Centrelink indicating that ACIR has no record of their child's 4 year old vaccinations. The letter will advise parents that they have a further 63 days to ensure that their child is immunised and that information about their 4 year old's vaccination status is sent to ACIR to ensure they retain elegibility for Child Care Benefits.
This rule change will take affect from 1 January 2009.
For children born before 1/1/2005, ACIR must have a record that your child has been immunised by the time the child turns 5 years to retain eligibility for the Child Care Benefit.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance
As part of the 2008-09 Budget process, the Government announced a measure to split the payment of the Maternity Immunisation Allowance (MIA) into two payments. Under current arrangements a person can be eligible for the MIA if their child meets the immunisation requirements on or after they turn 18 months of age and before the child turns two years of age.
From 1 January 2009 MIA will generally be paid in two payments, each equal to half the full current MIA rate at the time each claim is determined. To claim payment of MIA, the claimants must meet the immunisation eligibility requirement and lodge their claim on or before the child’s second birthday to receive the first split MIA payment. To receive the second half of the MIA payment, or the full MIA payment where the first half of the payment has not already been received, they must lodge their claim with the Family Assistance Office (at a Centrelink or Medicare office) before the child’s fifth birthday.
The objective of the split payment measure is to bring MIA more in line with the National Immunisation Program (NIP), and to provide an incentive for parents to ensure their children are immunised before they start school.
- If your child's immunisation status record with ACIR is not up-to-date, you will be asked to submit an Immunisation History form completed by your doctor or immunisation provider, confirming your child is up-to-date with immunisations, or obtain an exemption. You can also arrange for a catch-up program if further vaccinations are required.
Immunisation exemptions apply in the following situations:
- Your child cannot be immunised due to a medical condition. Ask your doctor or immunisation provider to complete a Medical Contra-indication form.
- Your child has a natural immunity to a disease, or a vaccine is unavailable. Ask your doctor or immunisation provider to give you a letter explaining the reasons.
- You have a personal, philosophical, religious or medical belief that immunisation should not occur. Ask your doctor or immunisation provider to complete a Conscientious Objection form.
Medical Contraindication, Immunisation History and Conscientious Objection forms are available from all Medicare offices, or ring the Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
Immunisation information
If you want more information about Immunisation go to the 'Immunise Australia Program' website that has been developed by the Public Health Division of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging (Australia). There you will find information about:
- what immunisation is
- detail about the immunisations and the diseases they prevent
- common misconceptions about immunisation
- common side effects of immunisation and what to do about them
- what to tell the doctor or nurse when taking your child for an immunisation
- immunisation and your eligibility for some government benefits.
http://immunise.health.gov.au
Immunisation before, during and after pregnancy
Some immunisations, including rubella immunisation, help protect an unborn baby if the mother has the immunisations before she becomes pregnant. For more information have a look at the topic 'Pregnancy - immunisation'.
Commonly asked questions
- Some parents are concerned about possible harm that might be caused to their child by immunisations and possible alternatives to immunisation.
- Immunise Australia has on its internet site two documents which may be of use if you have concerns.
References
Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, 2008:
Immunisation Unit, Department of Health (SA):
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/immunisation-index.htm
Fact Sheets (in many languages), Victorian Government:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation
MacIntyre CR, Leask J 'Immunization myths and realities: responding to arguments against immunisation' Journal Paediatrics and Child Health (2003) 39, 487-491
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
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child's sex.