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Childhood immunisation |
Keep children up to date
We encourage parents to ensure their children are up to date with their immunisations.
Children who are not fully immunised run greater risks of contracting preventable childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, tetanus, polio and Haemophilus Influenza B (Hib).
Immunisation is a safe and effective way of protecting children against serious diseases.
It is not compulsory for parents to have their children immunised to enrol them in school. However, during an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, unimmunised children may be directed to remain at home by the North Coast Public Health Unit.
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ACIR
The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register is linked to the Maternity Immunisation Allowance and it is important to make sure that our record of your child’s immunisation is up to date. If your records are incomplete please send an email to our nurses to see what vaccinations have been given at the Goonellabah Medical Centre.
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Immunisation benefits
If your child was born on or after January 1, 1998 and is fully immunised to 18 months and registered on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, you are entitled to $208 (Maternity Immunisation Allowance). This may be automatically sent to you with your family payment after your child is 19 months old. It is income tested, but not assets tested.
The payment is also available to conscientious objectors who have talked to their doctor and filled out the appropriate form.
The payment is not widely publicised so parents need to check their payment is forthcoming. If you are unsure whether you are on the ACIR, phone the GMC or ring the ACIR direct on 1800 653 809.
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Immunisation certificate
Once the childhood vaccination schedule is completed at age four, an immunisation certificate is issued. Children with completed vaccination certificates will not be sent home from school in outbreaks of preventable childhood diseases.
Parents or their GP can check which vaccinations the child has received through the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, no matter where in Australia the child was immunised. Parents who are on the register receive a statement of their child's immunisation history when the child turns 1, 2 and 5 years of age. You can request a statement at any time by visiting the Immunisation Register website (www1.hic.gov.au/general/acircirgacir) or by calling 1800 653 809.
Making sure your child is up to date with their vaccinations is one of the most important things you can do for your child as they start their schooling.
Making sure your child is up to date with their vaccinations is one of the most important things you can do for your child as they start their schooling.
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Whooping cough vaccine
In early 1999 the Federal Government made Infanrix and Tripacel available free for all infants and children attending GP surgeries and baby health clinics. This combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whopping cough) vaccine causes fewer side effects than the previously used vaccine.
Please let our receptionists know when you are booking an appointment for vaccination. This will help us streamline our vaccination services so that parents and children can spend the minimum time necessary at the surgery.
In fact we also encourage anyone making appointments for routine adult and travel vaccinations to let our receptionists know. Parents - don't forget your Blue Book when bringing your child in for immunisation.
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Hepatitis B vaccine
Vaccination against hepatitis B is now part of the childhood immunisation schedule. The vaccine is combined with three other vaccines, which helps keep the number of injections your baby needs to a minimum.
When your child receives the vaccination for hepatitis B will depend on when he or she was born.
Children born before 1 May 2000 will receive hepatitis B vaccine when they reach 10 years of age. A child needs three injections over a six month period to complete a course of hepatitis B immunisation.
Children born after 1 May 2000 will receive their first does of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. They then receive protection for hepatitis B, as well as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough in the new all-in-one vaccine at two, four and six months of age.
Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV, but vaccination can reduce this risk significantly. The blood-borne virus is transferred through blood and other bodily fluids.
More than one third of the world's population have been infected with hepatitis B virus according to estimates, with around 350 million chronic carriers of the virus. About a quarter of these carriers will develop serious liver disease, including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.
It is important to control the pool of hepatitis B carriers due to the severity of the disease as it progresses. The advantage of immunising children is to decrease the number of hepatitis carriers before they become sexually active.
More than one billion doses of hepatitis B vaccine have been used worldwide since 1981, with an outstanding record of safety, and 95% effectiveness.
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