Adolescents

Meningococcal ACWY school based vaccination program extended to Year 11 and 12 students

In February 2018, ACT Health introduced a new meningococcal ACWY vaccination program into ACT high schools for Year 10 students. Funded catch-up vaccines were also available for people aged 16 to 19 years through their general practitioner.

Building on the success of the Year 10 program, the ACT government extended  the schools-based vaccination clinics to Year 11 and 12 students during Terms 3 and 4 of this year. 

Registered nurses from the ACT Schools Health Team will visit all ACT high schools and colleges during the second semester of 2018 to offer the vaccine.

Any young person aged 15 to 19 years who has yet to receive the meningococcal vaccine can get the vaccine free through their GP until the end of 2018.

Watch the campaign video here to see why getting your free meningococcal ACWY vaccine is so important.

• FAQs for the meningococcal catch-up program
• Meningococcal disease fact sheet
• Q&As for General Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Immunisation Providers

Schools Health Team

The School Health Immunisation team of nurses offer age appropriate vaccinations at your child's school at a prearranged date and time

Information is sent home to you via your child's school. Consent is required prior to vaccination. Further information is available by contacting the High School Immunisation Program or School Health Administrator on (02) 6205 2086

What diseases is my child being protected against in year 7?

Your child’s vaccinations immunise them against various diseases, including:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
• Diphtheria 
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

HPV vaccine (Gardasil®9) 

HPV is a common virus that affects both women and men. The vaccine is offered to Year 7 girls and boys and requires a course of two injections over the school year to develop the immune response.

The Department of Health, in partnership with NCIRS and Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation (SKAI), has developed a range of consumer resources to educate you on HPV. These include a factsheet and a student video. Please visit the Department of Health for more information.

Please note that these vaccines are now free from GP’s up until your child’s 20th birthday, however some GP’s may charge a consultation fee.

Meningococcal ACWY school vaccination program for Year 10’s

ACT Health administers the meningococcal ACWY school-based vaccination program for Year 10 students.

The School Health Team provides the vaccination that protects against the meningococcal A, C, W and Y strains.

A catch-up program is also available for teenagers between 16 and 19. This is accessible through your GP.

Please see the links below for more information:

• Meningococcal ACWY school vaccination program factsheet
• FAQs for the meningococcal ACWY school vaccination program
• Meningococcal disease factsheet

Vaccination information for home schooled children

• Home schooled children information sheet 

How do I care for my child after their immunisation?

All vaccines used in Australia undergo extensive research and must be approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Before a vaccine can be licensed, it is tested over several years to ensure it is safe and that it works.

However, if you, your child or a client experience an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), please complete the Immunisation Adverse Event Reporting Form or call the immunisation unit on (02) 6205 2300.

• Common side effects of vaccine
• Adverse events fact sheet
• Immunisation Adverse event reporting form

All students receive a vaccine record on the day of their vaccination.

From 2018

Any vaccine given through a school-based program is added to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

You can view an immunisation history statement of all your child’s vaccines through the myGov website.

You can access this statement via two options:

1. online via myGov — follow the link to Medicare and then click on ‘Immunisation History Statement’
2. download the ‘Medicare Express Plus’ app on your mobile through the app store, click on the immunisation tab

Please contact the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) directly on 1800 653 809 if your child’s school vaccines don’t appear on their immunisation history statement after 3 weeks.

Before 2018

If you or your child received vaccines through the school immunisation program prior to 2018, you can obtain a record of HPV doses (Gardasil) through the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).  If you wish to have all the vaccines you received at school recorded on the AIR, complete the “request to add school vaccinations to the AIR” form.

It can take up to 2 weeks for the vaccines to appear on the Register.

Before 2003

No school vaccine records are available before 2003 as they were destroyed in the Canberra bush fires. We advise you to speak to your GP if you require more information on this.

Catch-up vaccination for adolescents

All young people aged 10 – 19 years are eligible to receive free vaccines, through the National Immunisation Program (NIP), for any childhood immunisations that they may have missed. These vaccines are available through your GP. Whilst the vaccines are free, your GP may charge a consultation fee.

Tips for anxious students

Here are a few things that you can do to help reduce your child's fear, anxiety and stress about getting their immunisations:

• Discuss with your child what the vaccines are for - explain the diseases that the vaccines help protect against
• Inform your child when the immunisations will occur at their school so they can prepare themselves
• Practice positive self-talk- "I can do this"

On the day of immunisations

• Eat a substantial breakfast and drink plenty of water
• Visit the nurses first thing and have the immunisations done first- the less waiting the better
• Wear loose-fitting clothing- especially around the arms and shoulders- this makes it much easier to access the site of immunisation.
• If your child is very anxious, you can come into the school and be with your child while they have their immunisation. For the privacy of the other students parents are not able to be with them in the recovery area.

What if I’m notified my child missed a dose?

If you have returned your child’s consent form and signed ‘yes’ to any vaccines and they miss a dose/s,  a letter will be sent to your postal address at the end of the year outlining which doses/s they still require. Letters will not be sent to those who have not returned a form or who have returned a ‘no’ consent for all vaccines.

• If a student misses a dose of the 2 doses HPV only vaccine during the first vaccination round, they can receive the missed dose in the next round of immunisations at their school.
• When you receive the missed dose letter, please take it to your GP to complete the course of vaccination to ensure effective immunity.
• Please advise the practice of the vaccine you require at the time of booking your appointment - this ensures the vaccine can be ordered and ready for you.
  You DO NOT require a prescription.
• While the vaccine remains free, your GP may charge a consultation fee.

Please Note:

• Vaccines given in the School Based Immunisation Program are free for students in Year 7 and year 10.
• Year 7 students need to complete missed doses with their GP. A consultation fee may be charged by your GP.
• This information applies to vaccines supplied by the ACT Health Directorate, if your child has come from or is going interstate please make enquires to the Health Protection Service, Immunisation Unit (02) 6205 2300  in relation to completing the required immunisation courses.

Please see the links below for helpful information about your child’s immunisation.

• ‘Jabbed’ documentary
• Find your language
• Year 7 consent card 2018
• Year 10 consent card 2018
• ACT Immunisation Schedule