Immunisation

Child Safety considers childhood immunisations an essential part of a child’s health care needs, and supports carers to maintain the recommended schedule of immunisations, reflected in the Queensland immunisation schedule.

Arranging immunisation

These vaccinations are free for children, and can be obtained from:

• a doctor (a consultation fee may apply if the doctor does not bulk bill)
• an Aboriginal medical service
• a local council immunisation clinic
• a local community health centre
• the child’s school immunisation program (for Year 7 and Year 10 children).

Some vaccination providers may require a signed consent form. Children in Year 7 and attending a Queensland high school are provided with information about their forthcoming vaccinations through the School Immunisation Program, usually at the beginning of the school year. This includes a consent form for the parent’s or legal guardian’s signature.

Consenting to immunisations

Who can consent to a child’s immunisation varies depending on who has legal custody or legal guardianship of the child.

• If a child in your care is under the guardianship of Child Safety, you do not need Child Safety’s consent every time you want to make appointments with health care providers for immunisation. Immunisation consent is included in the Authority to Care – Guardianship to the Chief Executive form you received from Child Safety.
• If a child in your care is under the custody of Child Safety, your Child Safety Officer will obtain the written consent from the child's parents, or where this is not possible or not provided, Child Safety will sign the Consent for Childhood Immunisation Form, for you to take to the immunisation provider. This form will be signed by the Senior Team Leader or Manager.
• If the child in your care is under a care agreement, the child’s immunisation can be arranged only with parental consent.

For more information refer to the Legislation changes: Vaccinations for children and young people in foster and kinship care fact sheet.

Overdue immunisations

Children in care may have missed 1 or more of their routine childhood vaccinations, leaving them at risk of significant health consequences.

Child Safety will provide you with the child’s immunisation history as soon as possible after the child first enters care, which can be added to the Child Health Passport folder. Alternatively your vaccination provider can check directly with the Australian Immunisation Register. This will help to identify if any of the routine vaccinations have been missed.

Some approved early childhood education and care services, including child care, kindergarten and schools, can refuse the enrolment or attendance of children if they are not up-to-date with their scheduled immunisations. You may need to provide the child’s immunisation history when enrolling at an early childhood service, or for family payments through the Australian Government.

Find more information about immunisation.