The Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition 2013

An online ‘catch-up calculator’ for NIP vaccines is hosted by South Australia
Health (at immunisationcalculator.sahealth.sa.gov.au) and is available to assist in
determining appropriate catch-up schedules for children ≤7 years of age across
Australia. When using such resources, also check the accuracy of information
provided by referring to your current state/territory immunisation schedule and
the current edition of the Handbook.
If still uncertain about how to plan the catch-up schedule, or for more
complicated catch-up scenarios, seek further advice (see Appendix 1 Contact
details for Australian, state and territory government health authorities and
communicable disease control).
For recently arrived migrants, the World Health Organization website (www.
who.int/countries/en) lists immunisation schedules provided by other countries,
which may supplement information regarding which vaccines a child/adult
arriving from overseas may have received (see also 3.3.8 Vaccination of migrants
to Australia).
Confirmation of vaccination history
The most important requirement for assessment of vaccination status is to have
written documentation of vaccination. The approach of immunisation service
providers to the problem of inadequate records should be based on the age of the
person to be vaccinated, whether previous vaccines have been given in Australia
or overseas, and the vaccines being considered for catch-up.
Detailed information on the vaccine registers used in Australia and how to
obtain vaccination records is provided in 2.3.4 Immunisation registers, but is also
described briefly below.
Children