Changes to the Secondary School Immunisation Program - Whitefriars

GE03/0207GE99/0210GE12/00149 November 2012CIRCULAR TO PRINCIPALS OF CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN VICTORIAChanges to the Secondary School Immunisation ProgramMAIN POINTS• The Department of Health immunisation website has a new fact sheet titled Immunisationinformation for parents of school-aged children available atwww.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/factsheets/immunisation-school-aged-children.htm andalso attached.• The new fact sheet is replacing the previous fact sheet Immunisation information for parentsand Secondary School immunisation- parent information.• From 2013, the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccination Program will include both boys andgirls in Year 7. Additionally, a time-limited catch-up program will be provided to Year 9 boys onlyin 2013 and 2014.• From 2013, the course of hepatitis B vaccine will no longer be offered as a school-basedprogram. Most children entering Year 7 in 2013 will have had the course of hepatitis B vaccineas an infant. Information will be communicated to parents via an information card that will bedistributed to all Year 7 parents with the other immunisation consent cards provided by localcouncils.ACTIONS REQUIRED• Please make parents aware of the content and availability of the new fact sheet throughyour usual communication channels and include advice about the changes to theimmunisation schedule.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION• The hepatitis B vaccine will be available in 2013 from local medical clinics or councilimmunisation services only to students who have not previously received the course of vaccine.• The other vaccines administered through the school-based immunisation program (chicken poxin Year 7 and diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis in Year 10) will remain unchanged.CONTACT/ENQUIRIES• For more information and fact sheets about vaccine preventable diseases go towww.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation.Stephen ElderEXECUTIVE DIRECTOREnc.

Immunisation information forparents of school-aged childrenFrequently asked questionsWhy immunise?Every day immunisation saves lives and makes itpossible for Victorians to live free from the illnessand the disability caused by many infectiousdiseases. Immunisation not only protects thosepeople who have been immunised, but it alsoprotects those in the community who may beunable to receive vaccines themselves by reducingthe spread of disease in the community.Immunisation is a proven and safe way to beprotected against diseases that cause seriousillness and sometimes death.Who can be immunised for free andwhen?Different immunisations are recommended andavailable for free depending on a person’s health,age, lifestyle and occupation (HALO).In Victoria, immunisations can be accessed throughyour local council or doctor. Many vaccines are freebut your doctor may charge a consultation fee.For more information regarding recommendedimmunisations, refer to the HALO fact sheet athttp://health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/factsheets.htmWhat if my child has missed avaccine?It is very important your child receives therecommended childhood vaccines on time. If yourchild has missed any of the vaccines, speak withyour local council or doctor regarding a catch-up.I am enrolling my child in primaryschool and they want animmunisation record – why?A record of your child’s immunisations must bepresented to your child’s primary school onenrolment. This record is very important in assistinghealth authorities to protect children in the event ofa vaccine preventable disease occurrence inschool. An unvaccinated child may be excludedfrom school for a period of time to reduce thespread of the disease.Further information regarding school entryimmunisation status certificates and accessing yourchild’s immunisation record can be found athttp://health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/factsheets/starting-primary-school.htmWhat about immunisation insecondary school?The protection provided by some childhoodvaccines gradually disappears over time so needsto be boosted in adolescence. The government alsofunds some vaccines specifically for adolescentsbecause they are at an age when the vaccine willbe most effective and will provide protection beforethey can be exposed to a disease.Immunisations are recommended for students inYear 7 and Year 10 of secondary school. InVictoria, students are eligible to receive freevaccines for their continued protection.Adolescents who do not attend mainstream schoolsare also eligible for free vaccines and shouldcontact their local council or doctor in the year theyare due so that they do not miss out. Adolescentsmust have the vaccines at the targeted age to beeligible for free vaccine. If the vaccine is part of acourse and the course is not finished in that year,the adolescent has until the end of the next year tofinish the course of vaccine for free. After this timethe vaccine must be purchased on prescription.Sometimes new vaccines become available inAustralia and additional school-based vaccineprograms are introduced. Information will always begiven to parents when this occurs. Sometimes acatch-up vaccine program ends, such as thehepatitis B vaccine program, which finishes at theend of 2013 for Year 7 students. This occursbecause the vaccine has already been given to thestudents when they were babies.Department of Health

What vaccines are offered free toadolescents?Year 7 (about 12 to 13 years old)Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccineThis vaccine is given if your child has never had thechickenpox disease or you are not sure if they hadchickenpox in the past. It consists of a singleinjection. Find out more at:www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/chickenpox-vaccination-year-seven-program.htmHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccineA three dose course of this vaccine is given to allYear 7 students with two months between the firstand second dose and four months between thesecond and third dose. Find out more about HPV:www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/human-papillomavirus.htmImportant note: Some Year 7 students may need tohave two vaccines on the same day. More than oneinjection does not increase the chance of a studenthaving a reaction to the vaccines. To make sureyour child is protected against the disease, it isrecommended they receive all the due vaccines onthe same day.Year 10 (about 15 to 16 years old)Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)vaccineThis vaccine protects against the three diseases ina single injection. Find out more at:www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/adolescent-diphtheria.htmWho will give the vaccines inschool?Each year local councils contact all the secondaryschools in their area to arrange dates to visit theschools and hold immunisation sessions. Localcouncils employ immunisation nurses.What do I need to do?Look out for the immunisation information andconsent form that your child should bring homefrom school. Read the information, complete theconsent form and return it to school as quickly aspossible. If you consent for your child to beimmunised, explain to them that immunisation isimportant and everyone must have these vaccineswhen they are adolescents for protection againstdisease. Encourage your child to eat breakfast onthe day the immunisation session is scheduled.Encourage your child to wear loose clothing so thatthe upper arm below the shoulder is easily seen(the injection is given into the upper arm.)What if my child misses theirvaccines at school?You can take your child to a local councilimmunisation service by contacting your council at:www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/local-councils.htmYou can also make an appointment with your doctorto catch-up missed vaccine. It is important for yourchild to follow up with the missed vaccine as soonas possible so they will be eligible to receive thevaccine for free. If the missed dose is part of acourse of vaccines and is given soon after themissed school session, your child can usually finishthe course at school with the rest of their class.What if I prefer my child to have theirvaccines at the doctor?It is important to return the consent card decliningthe vaccine at school. Inform your doctor that youare attending for the school immunisation. Thevaccines are free but your doctor may charge aconsultation fee.The HPV vaccine for Year 7 students may need tobe ordered in advance for your child, so allow timefor you doctor to do this when you arrange yourappointment. Remember to take your child to thedoctor in the year they are eligible for free vaccines.Where can I get more information?• your local council immunisation service at:www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/resources/local-councils.htm• your doctor• www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisationTranslationsIf you require the interpreting service to talkabout this information with your localcouncil immunisation service please call131 450. The immunisation information and consentform has been translated into many languages atwww.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/factsheets/language.htmAuthorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne, July2012. To receive this publication in an accessible formatcontact the Health Protection Branch, Department of Health.Page 2Department of Health