School vaccination information for parents and carers

Information is generally made available from your child’s school during the first few weeks of Term 1. All students in Years 7 and 10 will be given an information pack to take home to their parents.

The information pack provides details about the relevant diseases, the benefits of immunisation and common side effects of the vaccines which will be offered.

A consent card is included for parents/legal guardians to complete and return to the school. In South Australia, students can legally consent for themselves if they are aged 16 years or older.

Read the information carefully and complete all fields on the consent card. Remember to make sure you fill in the class name, sign and return it to the school as quickly as possible.

It is important to return the consent card if you consent ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ to your child’s school. This will provide information to SA Health that all students have been given the opportunity to participate in the program.

Only students with a completed and signed consent card, where consent has been given, will be vaccinated.

If you have said YES and wish to change to NO, consent can be cancelled by:

• Contacting the immunisation provider that will be visiting your child's school prior to the scheduled vaccination day. Your child’s school can give you the provider contact details if you don't have them.
• Make sure you tell your child you have cancelled the consent.
• Write a note in your child's diary stating you no longer consent to your child receiving the vaccine(s) if you have not been able to notify the immunisation provider prior to vaccination day.

If you have said NO and wish to change to YES, you will need to contact the school immunisation provider. If you are unsure of who the immunisation provider is, your school may be able to give you the provider details.

Please complete the student's details and tick the 'NO' in the consent section of the consent card and return it to the school.

Yes. Giving several vaccines at a single visit is safe. Combination vaccines or more than one vaccine in the same visit allow a child/student to be immunised against more diseases with fewer injections and visits. This also means less pain and stress for the child/student.

If you consent for your child to be immunised at school, discuss this with them and let them know what vaccines will be offered.

Encourage your child to eat breakfast on the day of vaccination and to wear loose clothing around the upper arm (the injection is given into the upper arm).

Your child's class will receive their vaccines at a designated time. At the time of vaccination, the nurse will ask your child a series of questions to ensure they are medically well, and the vaccines can be safely given.

Following vaccination, students will receive a Personal Immunisation Record to take home. You are encouraged to keep this record, so you know which vaccines your child has received.

Yes. The school will provide an area close to the vaccination team where your child will be observed for at least 15 minutes.

If the nurse assesses your child as not medically fit to receive the vaccine, you will be contacted with details about why the vaccine was not administered and where to go to receive the missed vaccine/s. 

It is important for your child to receive any missed doses of vaccine as soon as possible, while they are still eligible to receive the vaccine for free.

The immunisation provider will contact you with details on where to go to receive the missed vaccines.

It is important to receive any missed doses of vaccine as soon as possible while your child is still eligible to receive the vaccine for free.

No. If you prefer to have your child immunised with another immunisation provider and not at school, you can make arrangements for your child to receive them. The vaccines are free but there may be a consultation fee.

Home-schooled children  can access the free vaccines. Information will be provided by the schools using the normal communication mechanisms. Alternatively, parents can contact their local council, doctor or SA Health's Immunisation Section.

If your child has had some of the recommended vaccines, you can discuss further with your immunisation provider.

You can also check the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to access a history statement that shows all the immunisations your child has had since birth.

You will need to contact the immunisation provider that administered the vaccine.

If you have a record of the vaccine administration, you can take this to your GP who will be able to update your child’s information on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) for you.

You can access your child's Immunisation History Statement if they are less than 14 years of age via the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Students/adolescents can access their own records from age 14.

Further information is available from the Immunisation records and registers page.

Vaccinations administered at school will be recorded on the AIR using the individual's details registered with Medicare.

For more information about the School Immunisation Program, contact your immunisation provider or doctor.