What diseases can your child be vaccinated for?
Diseases that your child can be vaccinated for as part of the standard immunisation schedule:
– diphtheria;
– tetanus;
– pertussis (whooping cough);
– poliomyelitis (polio);
– measles;
– mumps;
– rubella;
– meningococcal type ACWY infections;
– haemophilus influenzae type b infections;
– hepatitis B;
– influenza;
– pneumococcal infections.
Other diseases that your child can be vaccinated for if they are at risk of coming into contact with the disease (for example, if they are going overseas):
– cholera;
– hepatitis A;
– meningococcal type B infection;
– plague;
– rabies;
– bat lyssavirus;
– yellow fever;
– Japanese encephalitis;
– Q fever;
– tuberculosis;
– typhoid;
– varicella-zoster (chickenpox).
Vaccinations during pregnancy
If you are pregnant you can have vaccinations for the flu and pertussis (whooping cough) to protect yourself and your baby from these diseases. These vaccines are free of charge for pregnant women. Your doctor can talk to you about when is the best time to have these vaccines.
Keeping track of your child’s vaccinations
The Australian Immunisation Register records all vaccinations given to everybody in Australia. When a doctor or health professional gives your child a vaccination, they will update your child’s immunisation history on the Australian Immunisation Register.
The Child Health and Parenting Service gives all babies in Tasmania a personal health record – a ‘blue book’ –when they are born. The blue book contains a checklist of all childhood vaccinations. Your doctor or nurse will sign your child’s blue book when they give your child a vaccine. The blue book is useful to keep track of what vaccinations your child has had, and when they are due for the next vaccinations.
Any vaccines that are given to your child by your doctor will be kept on file at the medical centre. You can ask your doctor for a copy of your child’s vaccination record at any time.
Any vaccines that are given to your child at school will be kept on file by your local council. You can ask your council for a copy of this vaccination record at any time.
Vaccinations and child care
Your child’s child care centre or school will ask for a copy of your child’s immunisation history. You can get a copy of your child’s immunisation history from the Australian Immunisation Register or from your doctor. You may not be able to enrol your child for child care or school or get the Child Care Subsidy until their vaccinations are up to date.
GET STARTED
When and where are vaccines available?
Your doctor can talk to you about when and where you can access vaccinations, and what type of vaccinations are suitable for you and your child. They will help you make arrangements for you, your child, or other family members to be vaccinated. There is a standard schedule that is used across Tasmania that states which vaccines should be given and when.
If you are pregnant your doctor can talk to you about when is the best time to have vaccines for Influenza and pertussis (whooping cough). Have a look at the Australian Government Department of Health website for information.
Some vaccines are provided to your child at school by a doctor or nurse. These will be arranged by the Department of Health and Human Services. Other vaccines will be given by a doctor or health nurse at a medical centre and are your responsibility as a parent to arrange. Vaccinations that are part of the immunisation schedule can also be given by a doctor or health nurse at vaccination clinics run by the council.
Why is the vaccination schedule different for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are able to have extra free vaccines for pneumococcal and flu. This is because Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may have a greater risk of being affected by these diseases. These extra vaccines are free of charge to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of particular ages.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you or your child are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and they will arrange for you to have these extra vaccines.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you or your child are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and they will arrange for you to have these extra vaccines. You can find out more on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
To keep track of your child’s vaccinations: you can see your child’s immunisation history by creating a MyGov account or by calling the Immunisation Register on 1 8 0 0 6 5 3 8 0 9.
Worried about vaccines?
Vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety before they are given to members of the public. After having a vaccine, you or your child might have some minor side effects, such as redness or a bump on the arm where you had the needle. These side effects are common and usually, go away after a day or two. It is very uncommon to have a serious reaction to a vaccine, but if you are worried that your child is having a reaction it is important to seek help from a medical professional. If you are worried about the safety of vaccines, have a read of the information Raising Children Website, or speak to your doctor or health nurse.
ACTION STEPS
Here you can find a simple list of the best actions to take if you are interested in this topic:
1 .
Check the Tasmanian immunisation schedule to see when your child is due for their next vaccination.
2 .
Call your doctor to make an appointment. Make sure you tell the receptionist that the appointment is for your child’s vaccination, as they might need to book a longer appointment or make sure there is a nurse free.
3 .
Bring your child’s blue book to the appointment and ask the doctor or nurse to sign it after your child has been given the vaccination.
4 .
At the appointment, your doctor might tell you some information about the vaccine and when your child is next due. Ask your doctor to write this down if you if you think you might have trouble remembering it or to send you a reminder.