Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is encouraging parents and carers to download their childs immunisation history statement before the start of primary and secondary schools in 2019.
A WNSWLHD spokesperson said principals of primary and secondary schools must request an immunisation history statement when children enroll.
“If children do not have an immunisation certificate on file, or whose certificate shows they are incompletely vaccinated, they may be excluded from school in the event of a serious vaccine preventable disease outbreak, for example, measles,” the spokesperson said.
However, parents are not required to show the certificate if their children are transferring straight from a public primary to a public secondary school.
“The immunisation history will transfer with their other records, so parents do not need to show the certificate again,” the spokesperson said.
Parents of other students are encouraged to download their childs statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
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WNSWLHD provides health services in most of the Central West cities, including the Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo local government areas.
NSW Health director of communicable diseases, Vicky Sheppeard, said the new requirements are crucial in stopping the spread of diseases.
“It's important for schools to have an immunisation history statement for each enrolled student to help manage disease outbreaks,” Ms Sheppeard said.
The immunisation history statement includes all vaccines given to the child and reported by the provider to the AIR.
All children registered with Medicare can obtain their immunisation history statements, including those who have had no vaccines, or those who have medical exemptions to certain vaccines.
Parents and carers can obtain their childs immunisation history statement by:
• using their Medicare online account through myGov
• using the Medicare Express Plus App
• calling the AIR General Enquiries Line on 1800 653 809.
NSW Health said it has achieved its highest vaccination rates through the immunisation programs.
It will spend a record $22.75 million on state-wide immunisation programs in 2018-19.
This story Get your childs immunisation history or else face risk of exclusion: health authority first appeared on Western Advocate.
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