The Child Documents Team can assist with obtaining immunisations records: email bsc-childdocs@communitieswa.gov.au
| All children in the CEO's care
must have all necessary vaccinations according to the WA Health
Childhood Immunisation Schedule, unless there are contraindications on medical advice. The Department's policy is in line with WA Health and the National Immunisation Program, which aims to reduce the number of cases of diseases that are preventable by vaccination in Australia. You must make sure that children and young people in the CEO's care are immunised, unless there is an exemption for medical reasons from a doctor or immunisation provider. |
Children and young people in the CEO's care must have all their required immunisations for carers to receive child care fee assistance and Family Tax Benefit Part A. If carers receive a payment for a child in the CEO's care, this can affect their eligibility for these payments.
Vaccines recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for children are funded by the Australian Government and provided free of charge. Immunisations can be obtained from Community Health Clinics, general practitioners (GPs), Regional Public Health Units, some Local Government Councils and Aboriginal Community Health Services. Note that GPs may charge a consultation fee.
School-based vaccination program
The Year 7 school-based vaccination program is provided free of charge. GPs can offer this vaccination for students who did not or could not access it through the school program.
Immunisation providers will seek consent for immunisations as required. If an immunisation provider requests written consent, complete Form 589 Immunisation Consent Form. The form must be signed and forwarded to the immunisation provider directly or given to the carer or support person who will attend the appointment with the child.
If the carer is taking the child to the appointment, you should remind them to take the Child Health Passport so it can be updated by the immunisation provider.
The Childhood Immunisation Schedule (funded by the National Immunisation Program) lists the vaccines recommended for all children from birth to 5 years of age. For information about immunisation providers and/or for appointment bookings:
visit the WA Department of Health website - Where can I get immunised?
call the Central Immunisation Clinic in West Perth on (08) 9321 1312
call the local Public Health Unit in your region.
Influenza vaccinations
Unless there are contraindications on medical advice, you must make sure that all children in provisional protection and care and children under a protection order (until 18) and protection order (time limited) over the age of 6 months receive the influenza (flu) vaccine each year.
WA Health advice is that the only reason for a child not to have the flu vaccine is following a severe (anaphylaxis) reaction to a previous dose of flu vaccine, or to any component of any vaccine. Allergic reactions to the flu vaccine are rare. If unsure, you should seek advice from the child's GP.
The following groups are eligible to receive free government funded flu vaccinations:
- Children aged 6 months to less than 5 years
- Aboriginal people 6 months and older
- Children 6 months and older with certain medical conditions that put them at risk of severe flu, including:
- heart and kidney disease
- chronic respiratory conditions
- chronic illnesses that required regular medical attention or hospitalisation in the previous year
- chronic neurological conditions
- impaired immunity
- children aged 6 months to 10 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy.
Further information about the flu vaccine for children can be found on the website Healthy WA.
COVID-19 vaccination
The Department supports the COVID-19 vaccination program as prescribed by the federal and state governments and the WA Department of Health. Vaccinations are free of charge at COVID-19 vaccination community clinics with an appointment, pharmacies, or through a GP.
Staff should check the Department's COVID-19 vaccination page and the Healthy WA website for the latest information on the vaccination roll out program: Government COVID-19 vaccination roll-out information (SharePoint). The Healthy WA website also provides further information relating to the COVID-19 vaccine and can be accessed here.
Children aged 5 and older can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To confirm if a child or young person in the CEO's care is eligible, or to learn more about underlying medical conditions, use the Vaccine Eligibility Checker (link also in related resources). Where required, complete Form 589 Immunisation Consent Form (In Related Resources).
Where the young person is assessed by a medical practitioner or health professional as being a mature minor as per the Gillick Principle, the young person must provide informed consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. For young people assessed as Gillick Competent, or those over 16 years of age, additional consent from the Department is not usually required.
Consider a GP consultation if:
the child or young person has, or may have, an underlying medical condition, or
the young person or their family have concerns and would prefer to speak to a doctor before the vaccination.
The same delegations apply for the COVID-19 vaccine as for other immunisations. Child protection workers should sign Form 589 (in related resources) and give this to the vaccination provider before the vaccine is administered.
If you have any concerns about the decisions a child in the CEO's care makes about COVID-19 vaccinations, consult with your team leader.
