Immunisation is important for children
What is immunisation?
Immunisation is a simple and effective way of protecting children from serious diseases.
Vaccines work by triggering the immune system to fight against certain diseases. If a vaccinated person comes in contact with these diseases, their immune system is able to respond more effectively, preventing the disease from developing or greatly reducing its severity and possible complications that could lead to disability and even death.
By vaccinating your child, you also help protect other members of your family and vulnerable people in the community such as pregnant women, older people and people with health conditions. It is much harder for a disease to spread when many people in the community are vaccinated. This is called this herd immunity.
Find more information:
- Department of Health and Aged Care- About immunisation
- Australian Academy of Science – The science of immunisation
- Department of Health and Aged Care - Questions about vaccination booklet
What childhood diseases does immunisation protect against?
Today, we have vaccines which protect children against many diseases. These diseases include the following:
- Pertussis (Whooping cough)
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Measles
- Rubella (German measles)
- Mumps
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis A
- Poliomyelitis
- Influenza
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Pneumococcal disease
- Meningococcal disease
- Rotavirus
- Human papillomavirus
These diseases can be prevented by routine childhood immunisation and are included in the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule. The Immunisation Schedule Queensland details the eligibility for funded vaccines and state-funded vaccines.
- Immunisation Schedule Queensland 2023 Children (PDF 163 kB)
- Immunisation Schedule Queensland 2023 Adolescents, Adults and additional vaccination for people with medical risk conditions (PDF 254 kB)
- Immunisation Catch-up Schedule January 2023
Some children (e.g., Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children or children with medical risk factors) may require additional vaccines. If you are unsure, check with your doctor or immunisation provider.
The Queensland School Immunisation Program allows Year 7 and Year 10 students to be vaccinated through their school for free.
What vaccinations should my child have and when?
The vaccination schedule is carefully planned so that babies and children get the best possible protection against serious infectious diseases as soon as they can.
The National Immunisation Program Schedule recommends certain vaccinations at certain times. Childhood immunisations are recommended at birth, 2 months (can be given at 6 weeks), 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and 4 years.
Don't delay!
To offer the best protection, it is important for your child to be vaccinated at the recommended times rather than delaying or splitting vaccines.
Some of the disease’s children are vaccinated against, like whooping cough and flu, are still common among children living in Australia.
Others, like measles, are less common in Australia but are more common in nearby countries in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Vaccinating your child will protect them from diseases which could be brought into Australia by travellers, or which they might catch if they travel overseas with you.
Is vaccination safe?
Yes, vaccines are safe. All vaccines go through rigorous testing to ensure they are safe and effective before approval in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Once available, vaccine safety continues to be monitored, with any concerns raised taken very seriously and investigated promptly. This is through reporting of adverse events to Queensland Health by completing an Adverse Events Following Immunisation Reporting Form. Queensland Health will notify the TGA to enable national monitoring and reporting in Australia.
Find more information: How do I know the vaccines are safe? Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation.
Can my child be vaccinated if they are ill on the day?
You can vaccinate babies and children with minor coughs and colds without fever. If a child is very unwell with a high fever (over 38.5 degrees Celsius) you should postpone vaccination until they are well. If in any doubt, ask your doctor or health clinic staff before delaying vaccination.
Do vaccines have side-effects?
Like all medications, vaccines may have side effects. Nearly all of these are minor reactions, such as soreness at the injection site or a mild fever. Most side-effects are short lived and do not lead to any long-term problems. A slight reaction actually shows that the vaccine is having the desired effect on the immune system.
More serious side effects are extremely rare but may include allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis). Your doctor or nurse knows what to do to help a child having an anaphylactic reaction recover quickly. This is why you are asked to stay at the clinic or medical surgery for at least 15 minutes following vaccination in case further treatment is required.
If your child has a reaction that you think is severe or unexpected, seek medical advice straight away.
Find more information:
- Possible side effects of vaccination
- Following vaccination – what to expect and what to do
- After your visit – Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation
Where can I have my child vaccinated?
You can get most vaccines from your GP, while the vaccine will be free, your doctor may charge a consultation fee. There are other vaccine service providers such as local council clinics, community health clinics, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health services.
To find a vaccination provider near you:
- call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- use HealthDirect’s free service finder
- call the National Immunisation Hotline on 1800 671 811.
Keeping a record of vaccinations
It is important to keep a record of your child's vaccinations. When your child gets a vaccination, the person that gave the vaccine will send the details to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Proof of vaccination is often needed to enrol your child in childcare or school. In Queensland, if your child’s vaccinations aren’t up to date, your childcare service can:
- refuse to enrol your child
- cancel your child’s enrolment or refuse to let them attend
- conditionally accept your child’s enrolment or attendance.
Find out more about childcare immunisation requirements on the Queensland Government website.
To prove your child’s vaccinations are up to date, you may need to show an immunisation history statement when your child enrols in childcare services.
Accessing records
You can access your own or your child’s immunisation history statement from the AIR by:
- using your myGov account – link your Medicare account to view or download the immunisation history statement
- using the Medicare Express Plus App on a mobile or tablet
- calling AIR on 1800 653 809 for a copy of your statement. It may take up to 14 days to receive your statement via post.
- asking your GP to access the AIR and print an immunisation history statement.
What is ‘no jab, no pay’?
The No Jab, No Pay legislation regarding immunisation requirements means that families with a child who has not had all the routine vaccinations listed on the National Immunisation Program schedule will not get their full Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A or child care fee assistance.
Find more information: Services Australia website immunisation requirements.
To find out more about immunisation:
If you have more questions speak to your doctor, nurse or health care worker or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Reliable sources of information based on scientific evidence are available via the below links:
- Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation
- Questions about vaccination booklet
- The Science of Immunisation booklet
Translation service
Free Interpreting Service (FIS):
Email: tis.freeinterpreting@homeaffairs.gov.au
Phone: 1300 575 847
References
- Australian Government Department of Health, ‘Routine childhood immunisation’
https://www.health.gov.au/childhood-immunisation/routine-childhood-immunisation - Australian Government Department of Health, ‘Questions about vaccination’
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/questions-about-vaccination?language=en - Australian Government Department of Health, ‘National Immunisation Program Schedule’
https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/national-immunisation-program-schedule - Australian Government, Department of Health. ‘Australian Immunisation Register’
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/australian-immunisation-register