Topic: School Based Vaccination Program Childhood Records
Description
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends various vaccines for adolescents to protect them through to adulthood.
Coordinated by Queensland Health, the School Based Vaccination Program provides parents/guardians with the opportunity to have their children vaccinated against certain diseases through their school at no cost. The Program is offered to children of secondary school age in state and non-state schools.
Year 8 students will be offered hepatitis B and varicella (chickenpox) vaccination, and female students in Year 8 will be offered human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to protect against cervical cancer.
Year 10 students will be offered diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination in this years program.
Practical Advice
In Queensland when a child is vaccinated personal information (such as name, date of birth, address and details of vaccines received is sent to Queensland Health.
The Queensland Health State Immunisation database called VIVAS (Vaccination Information and Vaccination Administration System) has been recording all publicly funded vaccinations administered in Queensland since 1996. The national database, ACIR (Australian Childhood Immunisation Register) also commenced in 1996 but only records vaccinations administered to children under seven years of age. The VIVAS database electronically transfers data daily to update the ACIR.
Because some secondary school students had their infant vaccinations before these registers were established, they may not have a complete history of childhood vaccinations recorded on VIVAS or the ACIR. Unless vaccination records are held by the parent/s or they can access their childs records from the doctor or immunisation service provider who administered the vaccination there will be no other way of obtaining vaccination records.
Therefore the first point of reference for obtaining your child's vaccination record should be their personal health record or the immunisation service provider who administered the vaccination. The ACIR may have some records for older children and these records can be accessed by calling 1800 653 809 (ensure your have your Medicare card number ready).
Queensland Health uses VIVAS to:
- Forward information on vaccinations for children under seven years of age to the ACIR, which is used to determine eligibility for some government payments, such as the Maternity Immunisation Allowance and Child Care Benefit.
- Answer queries your doctor or health provider may have on your child’s vaccination status.
- Record vaccination history and generate vaccination history and generate vaccination reminder notices to your doctor or health provider if your child is overdue for a vaccination.
- Respond to outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases.
Other Resources
For further information, see the School Based Vaccination Program website
Contact the School Based Vaccination Program Co-ordinator:
- Southern Queensland 07 5509 7222
- Central Queensland 07 3142 1800
- Northern Queensland 07 4753 9034
Contact your local Queensland Health Public Health Unit:
- Brisbane Southside 07 3000 9148
- Brisbane Northside 07 3624 1111
- Cairns 07 4050 3600
- Darling Downs 07 4631 9888
- Gold Coast 07 5509 7222
- Logan 07 3412 2989
- Mackay 07 4968 6611
- Moreton Bay 07 3142 1800
- Mount Isa 07 4744 9100
- Rockhampton 07 4920 6989
- Sunshine Coast 07 5409 6600
- Townsville 07 4753 9000
- West Moreton 07 3413 1200
- Wide Bay 07 4184 1800
Visit the Immunise Australia website at www.immunise.health.gov.au
Contact your doctor.
Contact the Immunise Australia National Infoline: 1800 671 811
Related Content
School Based Vaccination Program
Last updated: 14th September, 2010
Review Date: 31st December, 2010
