Childcare immunisation requirements

You may need to prove that your child’s immunisation status is up-to-date before they can enrol or attend an approved early childhood service.

Immunisation history statements

An immunisation history statement says whether a child’s immunisation status is up-to-date or not up-to-date. This can be:

• an official immunisation history statement issued by the Australian Immunisation Register
• a letter from a recognised immunisation provider (e.g. a GP or immunisation nurse).

The Personal Health Record (the ‘red book’) from Queensland Health is not acceptable proof of immunisation because it only contains handwritten updates.

Check with your service to find out what their policy is.

I don’t want my child to be vaccinated

The legislation does not make immunisation mandatory or stop services from allowing unvaccinated children to enrol or to attend. It aims to protect children and adults who work in early childhood settings from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Refusing to allow a child to enrol or attend a service based on their immunisation status is not unlawful discrimination under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.

Check with your service to find out what their policy is.

If you have concerns about vaccinating your child, talk to your doctor or immunisation provider for advice. Immunisation is highly effective at preventing serious and life threatening infectious diseases. Worldwide, it has been estimated that immunisation programs prevent approximately 2.5 million deaths each year.

In January 2016 the Australian Government passed the No Jab, No Pay legislation regarding immunisation requirements. This is separate to the Queensland childcare legislation.