|
Is Your Child 4 Years Old?
If your child is due for 4 year old immunisation, come and join us for music and fun featuring THE KAZOOS www.thekazoos.com
Saturday 8th November 2008
St Kilda Town Hall Auditorium
9.30am-11.30am
Bookings Not Required
The Health Services Unit is again holding an immunisation session for children who have turned 4 years and are due for the boosters recommended by the National Immunisation Program, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio (Infanrix IPV) and Measles, Mumps and Rubella (Priorix).
These vaccines should be given as soon as your child is four and are a requirement for school entry. If your child has turned four and has not previously received the boosters, it is now time for you to ensure these children are immunised.
Come along to the session on 8th November and enjoy the concert with the Kazoos. Don't forget to bring your child's immunisation book with you.
The boosters are also available at any of the Council Immunisation sessions. Appointments are not necessary, however it is important that you bring your immunisation book or history to the session.
After your visit, you will receive a new statement from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. This is your School Entry Certificate for primary school enrolment.
top
Have You Changed Your Postal Address?
If you have recently moved house or changed your postal address, it is important that you inform Medicare Australia and Council of your new address. This ensures your childs immunisation records are correctly maintained on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR).
It is important that your childs immunisation history is maintained up to date to prevent constant unnecessary letters being sent and to ensure your childs records are available when they are most needed, when starting school or when travelling.
Medicare can be contacted on 132 011
top
Immunisation
Immunisation helps children stay healthy by helping to protect them against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community.
It not only protects individuals but also others in the community, by increasing the general level of immunity and minimising the spread of infection. Immunisation uses the body's natural defence mechanism - the immune response - to build resistance to infectious diseases. Thirteen diseases can be prevented by routine childhood immunisation - diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis (polio), measles, mumps, rubella (german measles), haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, meningococcal C, pneumococcal, Rotavirus and varicella (chickenpox).
The City of Port Phillip offers a comprehensive community immunisation program for children and adults. All vaccinations, which are in accordance with the National Immunisation Program Schedule, are offered free of charge. The council program also offers a number of vaccinations outside the schedule at a nominal cost.
If you have any queries regarding immunisation, please contact Council's Health Services Unit on 9209 6292.
top
Changes to the National Immunisation Program
Children born from 1 March 2008 will now recieve a six-in-one vaccine that provides protection against six diseases, Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae tybe b (Infanrix Hexa). The vaccine is adminstered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age and combines two vaccines (infanrix IPV and Comvax) that were previously administered, reducing the number of injections received.
Weekly immunisation sessions are held at a number of venues across Port Phillip.
top
top
Recommended immunisation schedule (baby - adult)
| Birth |
Hepatitis B Vaccine (HBVax II) |
| 2 months |
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae tybe b (Infanrix Hexa)
Childhood Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar)
Rotavirus (RotaTeq) |
| 4 months |
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae tybe b (Infanrix Hexa)
Childhood Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar)
Rotavirus (RotaTeq) |
| 6 months |
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis / Polio / Hepatitis B / Haemophilus influenzae tybe b (Infanrix Hexa)
Childhood Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevenar)
Rotavirus (RotaTeq) |
| 12 months |
Meningococcal vaccine (NeisVac)
Measles / Mumps / Rubella (MMR)
Haemophilus influenzae tybe b (Hiberix), for children born after 1st March 2008
Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, for children born before 1st March 2008 |
| 18 months |
Chickenpox (Varilrix) |
| 4 years |
Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis / Polio vaccine (Infanrix IPV)
Measles / Mumps / Rubella (MMR) |
Year 7 at school
4-6 months apart |
Hepatitis B vaccine (2 doses) (HBVax II Adult)
Human Papillomavirus (Gardasil)
Chickenpox (Varilrix) |
Prior to leaving school
15-19 years |
Adult Diphtheria / Tetanus / Pertussis vaccine (Boostrix) |
| Non-immune women planning pregnancy |
Measles / Mumps / Rubella (MMR) |
| 50 years |
Adult Diphtheria / Tetanus vaccine (ADT) |
Over 50 years
(Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people) |
Pneumococcal vaccine (every 5 years) (Pneumovax23)
Infuenza vaccine (annual) (Fluvax / Vaxigrip / Fluarix) |
|
Over 65 years |
Pneumococcal vaccine (every 5 years) (Pneumovax23)
Infuenza vaccine (annual) (Fluvax / Vaxigrip / Fluarix) |
Preterm babies born less than 28 weeks gestation or less than 2kg birth weight require additional doses of some vaccines. Further details regarding your childs information will be provided to you prior to the vaccines being administered, at the immunisation session.
The Immunisation Coodinator at Councils Health Office may be contacted on 9209 6292.
top
Overseas Immunisations
If your child has had vaccines overseas you will need to:
- Notify the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) and Medicare of the vaccines recieved overseas. The Council Immunsiaton Coordinator can arrange this for you.
- An appointment should be made to have your records checked with the Health Office PRIOR TO ATTENDING an immunisation session. Contact the Health Services Unit on 9209 6292 to make an appointment.
- All original immunisation records from overseas must be brought to the meeting. Various paperwork is to be completed to establish whether your child requires additional vaccines as recommended by the National Immunisation Program. The information will be sorted and explained to you.
Please understand we do not have the time to process overseas vaccines at an immunisation session.
If you are returning overseas without completing the Australian Schedule it is important to notify the Health Services Unit either by email (eServices) or fax. Please take the time to do this as it allows your history to be put on hold with the Australian Childhood Immunisation Registrar and prevent mail being sent out to your old address.
top
Travel Vaccines
Follow the link below for information regarding immunisation prior to travelling.
Travel Vaccines Information
top
Optional Users Pays Vaccines
Can we be vaccinated for vaccines outside of the Australian Immunisation Schedule?
Council provide various vaccines to the general public, including children and babies. All the vaccines are offered at a non profit cost as described int he attached forms.
Payment for these vaccines MUST be made prior to attend an immunisation session by filling in the applicable form and submitting with payment to our cashier. Application forms are also available at St Kilda, South Melbourne and Port Melbourne Town Halls. The cashier will issue you with a receipt which you will need to bring to the immunisation session.
top
Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR)
The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) is a national database that keeps a record of your child's immunisations up to the age of 7 years.
Immunisation providers (G.P. or Council) report your child's immunisations to the ACIR. A history statement of all your child's immunisations is automatically posted out to you at 1, 2 and 5 years of age.
The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register now supplies a history statement that acts as a School Entry Immunisation Certificate. It is automatically posted out to you once your child has completed the 4-year-old immunisations and has completed all required childhood immunisations.
You may track your child's immunisation history online from Medicare's Online Health information pages at Medicare - Keeping track of your childs Immunisation recordsYou may also contact ACIR to query your child's immunisation history on 1800 653 809.
top
School Entry Certificates
Starting Primary School?
Your child MUST HAVE A SCHOOL ENTRY IMMUNISATION CERTIFICATE.
It is important that your childs infant immunisation history is recorded with the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) to ensure a School Entry Certificate is available to enrol your child in school.
What is a School Entry Certificate?
It is a specific document which shows the status of your child's record of immunisation, whether complete or incomplete. It is a legal requirement to provide a school entry immunisation certificate on enrolment to primary school in Victoria. It will assist health authorities in protecting children in the event of a vaccine preventable disease occurrence in school.
School entry immunisation certificates can be obtained form the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). The ACIR can be contacted on 1800 653 809.
How do I obtain a School Entry Certificate?
You will automatically receive a history statement from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) after your child has completed the 4-year-old vaccine schedule and has completed all childhood immunisations required.
If your child has not yet recieved the booster vaccines, come along to the 4-year-old session to be held in the St Kilda Town Hall Auditorium on Saturday 8th November and enjoy a concert with THE KAZOOS. The session will be held from 9.30-11.30am. No need to book just ensure you bring your childs immunisation book with you.
If your child has completed all immunisations but you have not received a history statement call ACIR on 1800 653 809 to find out why.
If for some reason your child's immunisation records are incomplete, missing or your child has never been vaccinated, contact your local council immunisation service who will provide you with a school entry immunisation certificate and provide advice about childhood immunisation. For the City of Port Phillip call (03) 9209 6777.
The history statement should state at the bottom of the page "This child has received all vaccines required by 5 years of age." If it does, this history statement becomes a school entry immunisation certificate.
Who do I give the School Entry Immunisation Certificate to?
Once you have obtained your school entry immunisation certificate you will need to present it to your child's primary school on enrolment.
If you have lost the school entry immunisation certificate issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) ring 1800 653 809 to obtain another copy. It is important that the ACIR has your current address details to make sure you receive your School Entry Immunisation certificate.
If you are moving, or have recently moved, contact ACIR on 1800 653 809 to update your contact details.
Read the  Four Year Old Vaccination Fact Sheet for further information.
top
Things you need to know about sessions!
What do I need to bring to a session?
All immunisation records for the child/adult being immunised and a current Medicare card with your child's name. If your childs name is not on your Medicare card, you will need to register with Medicare. To do this contact medicare or collect a Medicare registration kit from your maternal child health nurse.
If you are attending for pre-paid vaccinations, you must also bring your receipt received from Councils cashier. We will record all vaccination details on the computer and in your record book and inform you when the next vaccinations are due.
Please ensure you have already completed an immunisation consent card and left it with your Maternal and Child Health Nurse before attending the session. Ask your Maternal and Child Health Nurse for help. For contact information, go to our Maternal and Child Health Centres section.
Your child's immunisation records are valuable documents throughout their life - always keep them up to date and in a safe place.
If you are being vaccinated by your local Doctor, please take in your baby's history book to ensure that the vaccines are recorded in the book and stamped or signed by the doctor. It can also be a good idea to ask your Doctor to send the data of what vaccines you received on your visit to the Australian Immunisation Register.
This ensures that the register has all your records up to date whether done by council or your Doctor.
If your records are unclear, mixed up, from overseas or you have received a letter from The Australian Immunisation Register, please contact the Immunisation Coordinator at the ASSIST centre (03) 9209 6777, and arrange a time to bring your records in. Please ensure this occurs prior to an immunisation session.
Do I need an appointment?
Appointments are not necessary for any session held within the municipality. You may attend any session at any time, however waiting times can be reduced if you arrive close to the commencement of the session time.
Immunisation Schedule 2008
Can I pay for vaccines requiring payment at an immunisation session?
No. All payments must be made at a cashiers located at either the South Melbourne, Port Melbourne or St Kilda Town Halls.
Does the council keep immunisation records for vaccinations administered by doctors?
No. All providers of vaccinations are required to forward the information to a central records department in Canberra called the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). For immunisation status queries, or questions about the register and reminder service, you can contact the ACIR on free call 1800 653 809.
How much time does immunisation take?
After receiving initial vaccinations, it is recommended you wait at least 15 minutes for nursing staff to monitor your child/self. Please arrive at an immunisation session at least 15 minutes before the scheduled finishing time. We cannot assist anyone after the closing time stipulated on the Immunisation Schedule.
How are the sessions run?
On entry you will need to take a number and have a seat until your number is called. The immunisation coordinator and one of the health services officers will check your record book and determine the vaccines that are due.
The vaccines you have on that day are recorded onto the computer and are sent to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR).You will then be directed to the medical staff to proceed with the vaccinations. The medical staff double check what is to be given prior to vaccines being administered.
The medical staff are available to answer any questions you may have prior to the vaccines being administered. Once the vaccines are administered you will be asked to wait at least 15 minutes before leaving the session.
top
Immunisation Factsheets
The following Immunisation Fact Sheets provide essential information about each Immunisation.
top
Immunisation Fact Sheets in your language
top
top
More information
All information regarding vaccines can be viewed on the Department of Human Services website at:
www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation
Information on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) is available on the website at
www1.hic.gov.au/general/acircirghome
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer phone ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Health Services.
top |
