Changes to childhood immunisation requirements start 1 January 2016
From 1 January 2016, parents receiving any of the below assistance payments need to ensure their child’s immunisation history is up to date:
- Child care benefit
- Child care rebate
- Family tax benefit part A.
These changes will also affect those who receive Grandparent Child Care Benefit, Special Child Care Benefit or Jobs, Education and Training Child Care Fee Assistance. Parents and carers will be notified by Centrelink stating that they may not meet the new requirements for receiving family assistance payments.
To continue receiving these benefits, all children under the age of 20 will need to meet one of the below criteria:
- be fully immunised, or
- be on a recognised catch-up schedule, or
- have an approved medical exemption.
Catch-up
All National Immunisation Program vaccines are free indefinitely for children aged up to 10. All children aged 10 to 19 years are also eligible to receive free catch-up vaccinations through the No Jab, No Pay program up to the end of 2017. All immunisations provided need to be entered on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) (external site).
Children aged up to 10 years who require catch-up vaccinations should receive all age eligible vaccines as per the current WA Immunisation schedule.
Table: Recommended catch up vaccinations for children aged 10-19 years (adapted from the Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th edition online 2015 (external site))
| Vaccine (10-19 yr olds) |
Clinically recommended (funded) |
Linked to family payments (10-19 yr olds) |
Doses required |
Min interval between dose 1 and 2 |
Min interval between dose 2 and 3 |
| dT ( dTpa1) |
Yes |
Yes |
3 doses |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
| Poliomyelitis (IPV) |
Yes |
Yes |
3 doses |
4 weeks |
4 weeks |
| MMR |
Yes |
Yes |
2 doses |
4 weeks |
Not required |
| Hepatitis B3 – aged 10-19 years |
Yes |
Yes but only those born on or after May 2000 |
3 paediatric doses |
1 month |
2 months2 |
| Hepatitis B3 – aged 11-15 years3 |
Yes |
Yes but only those born on or after May 2000 |
2 adult doses |
4 months |
Not required |
| MenCCV |
Yes |
No |
1 dose |
Not required |
Not required |
Varicella vaccine
– if aged < 14 years4 5
|
Yes |
No |
At least 1 dose |
If second dose given, a 4 week interval is required |
Not required
|
Varicella vaccine
– if aged >14 years4 5
|
Yes |
No |
2 doses if aged >14 years |
4 weeks |
Not required |
References
- One of the doses should be given as dTpa (or dTpa-IPV if poliomyelitis vaccination is also needed) and the course completed with dT. In the unlikely event that dT is not available, dTpa or dTpa-IPV may be used for all 3 primary doses but this is not routinely recommended as there are no data on the safety, immunogenicity or efficacy of dTpa for primary vaccination (refer to also 4.12 Pertussis).
- For hepatitis B vaccine, the minimum interval between dose 1 and dose 3 is 4 months (refer to 4.5 Hepatitis B).
- Note the age groups overlap and this is an either/or, not both.
- Varicella vaccine is recommended for all non-immune persons. At least 1 dose should be given to those aged <14 years, and all persons aged ≥14 years should receive 2 doses. (Refer also to 4.22 Varicella.)
- MMRV is suitable to provide varicella vaccination in children aged <14 years. This vaccine is not recommended for use in persons ≥14 years of age. (Refer also to 4.22 Varicella.)
ACIR extension
From 1 January 2016, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) (external site) will be expanded to capture immunisation records for all Australians aged up to 20 years.
Exemptions
From 1 January 2016, conscientious objection will no longer be a valid exemption.
In addition, notifications of medical contraindications and natural immunity on a practice letterhead will no longer be accepted.
Accepted exemptions include natural immunity and medical contraindication.
Providers will need to fill in the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (AIR) immunisation medical exemption form (IM011) (external site) and submit to the ACIR. More details are included in the form.
A letter from the Chief Medical Officer explaining these changes in more detail is currently being circulated to all immunisation providers.
More information
Visit the Australian Department of Health website (external site).
Contact information
For queries on immunisation histories, please call the AIR on 1800 653 809 (Mon-Fri 8am-5pm)
For vaccine orders, please call 6376 0550 or email vaccineorders@health.wa.gov.au
For further assistance on catch-up schedules and translating overseas medical records, please contact the Central Immunisation Clinic on 9321 1312 or your local public health unit (HealthyWA).
Last reviewed: 10-05-2022