Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting children against certain diseases. The risks of these diseases are far greater than the very small risks of immunisation.
Immunisation protects children (and adults) against harmful infections before they come into contact with them in the community. Immunisation uses the body’s natural defence mechanism – the immune response – to build resistance to specific infections.
Twelve diseases can be prevented by routine childhood immunisation – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), poliomyelitis (polio), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles), haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, meningococcal C, pneumococcal and varicella (chickenpox). All of these diseases can cause serious complications and sometimes death.
Immunisation is given as an injection.
Immunisation helps children stay healthy by preventing serious infections.
Immunisation gives a good level of protection against disease, but unfortunately there can be no guarantee of 100% protection. There is a small percentage of people who, despite receiving the recommended vaccinations, will not develop protective immunity against the disease. If children do catch an illness they have been immunised against, the illness is usually milder than if they had not received the vaccine.
There are three reasons for immunising children in Australia
Common side effects of immunisation are redness and soreness at the site of injection and low-grade fever. These reactions can be treated simply with paracetamol.
Serious side effects are extremely rare, and usually occur very soon after vaccination. It is for this reason that we request that those persons vaccinated remain for observation in the waiting area for at least 15 minutes following vaccination. If worrying or persistent reactions develop later, medical help should be obtained. However, it is emphasised that the risk of serious post-vaccination reaction is rare and needs to be considered against the risk of acquiring a serious illness which could cause morbidity or even death.
A very small proportion of children should not have certain immunisations because of medical conditions. This should be decided with your local doctor.
Every time a child is immunised, the information should be recorded in the Personal Health Record given to parents in the hospital or birth centre after a baby is born. It is important to keep these records as a reminder of when immunisations are due and to assist in checking which children in the family are immunised if there is an outbreak of disease. You may also need to show these records when your child starts school. The Personal Health Record and clinic records are completed by the doctor, nurse or health worker giving the immunisation.
Details of the immunisations are also sent to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) which is a national database for recording details of vaccinations given to children under 7 yrs who live in Australia. Parents can telephone the ACIR on 1800 653 809 (free call) for information about their child’s vaccination status regardless of where the child’s vaccination was given in Australia.
Yes. The Hobart City Council offers to visit each school within the Hobart Municipality. In 2008 the following vaccines will be available in accordance with the National Immunisation Schedule:-
The school immunisation programme for 2008 is due to commence in early April. Consent forms wil be delivered to each school at the commencement of Term 1 for distribution to those students that are eligible to participate in the programme. An information sheet in relation to each vaccine will be provided with each consent form. Parents/Guardians are strongly recommended to read the supporting information before consenting to their child being immunised.
The Hobart City Council conducts free immunisation Clinics on the second Thursday of each month in the Lower Conference Room of the Town Hall. Parking is available in the Town Hall car park off Elizabeth St. Parking is also available in the Argyle Street and Centrepoint car parks. The first hour of parking is free.
The public may attend any clinic however it is preferred that the following groups attend allocated clinic times:
*Please note that the Immunisation Clinics for 12 November and 10 December 2008 will be held in the Town Hall.
FREE vaccines funded by the Federal Government are available for the following age groups and diseases as per the Australian Vaccination Schedule:
Immunisation schedule for children in southern Tasmania (commencing 1 November 2007)
| Age | Disease | Antigen | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B* | Hep B | HepB Vax II 0.5ml Paediatric |
| 2 months | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B**, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis | DTPa/Hib/HepB/IPV | Infanrix Hexa |
|
Pneumococcal |
7vPCV |
Prevenar | |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus | Rotarix | |
| 4 months | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B**, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis | DTPa/Hib/HepB/IPV | Infanrix Hexa |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus | Rotarix | |
| Pneumococcal | 7vPCV | Prevenar | |
| 6 months | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B**, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis | DTPa/Hib/HepB/IPV | Infanrix Hexa |
| Pneumococcal | 7vPCV | Prevenar | |
| 12 months | Haemophilus influenza type B | Hib | Pedvax |
| Measles, Mumps & Rubella | MMR | Priorix | |
| Meningococcal | MenCCV | Menjugate | |
| 12 months (with specified medical conditions) | Pneumococcal | 7vPCV | Prevenar |
| 18 months | Varicella (Chickenpox) | Varicella | Varivax |
| 4 years | Measles, Mumps & Rubella | MMR | Priorix |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis | DTPa/IPV | Infanrix IPV | |
| 4 - 5 years with specified conditions | Pneumococcal | 23vPPV | Pneuomovax |
| Grade 6 (for those born before May 2000) |
Hepatitis B (2 doses, 4 – 6 months apart) Varicella (for those non-immune)*** |
HepB Varicella |
HepB VaxII 1mL (Adult) Varivax |
| Grade 6 or 7 girls only (ongoing)**** | Human Papilloma Virus (3 doses, 0, 2, & 6 months after 1st dose) | HPV | Gardasil |
| 13-18 year old girls (catch-up)**** | Human Papilloma Virus (3 doses, 0, 2 & 6 months after 1st dose) | HPV | Gardasil |
| Grade 10 Only | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis | dTpa | Boostrix, Adacel |
* - Hepatitis B Vaccine should be given to all infants as soon as practicable after birth. The greatest benefit is if given within 24 hours, and must be given within 7 days.
** - Total of 3 doses of Hep B required following the birth dose at either 2, 4 and 6 months, or 2, 4 or 12 months. Please note that for children born between 1 November 2004 and 30 April 2005, who have received their 6 month vaccinations but not their 12 month vaccinations, Comvax (Hib/HepB) is required instead of Pedvax (hib)
*** - This vaccine is for one cohort in this age range and should only be given if there is no history of disease or vaccination. In other words, only one school grade. Contact the Public and Environmental health Service on 1800 671 738 or 6222 7724 for details.
Children born BEFORE 1st May 2000 did not have hepatitis B included in their schedule, but will be offered free hepatitis B vaccination (2 doses – 4-6 months apart) in Grade 6 under the school immunisation program.
Grade 10 pupils are eligible for a free booster of diphtheria and tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine (Boostrix).
Influenza vaccine is available free to people 65 years and over (proof of age necessary).
Pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax 23) is available free to people 65 years and over (proof of age necessary). Pneumococcal vaccine is free to infants born from 1st January 2005 (see above schedule). It is also free in a "catch-up" program during 2005 for children born between 1st January 2003 and December 2004, and to children with specific high-risk medical conditions (information about elgibility is available from Council's Development & Environmental Services Division on request).
No appointment is necessary for the above free vaccines.
Further information for our monthly immunisation clinics can be obtained by telephoning an Environmental Health Officer on 6238 2715.
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