Secondary School Immunisation Program
Secondary School Immunisation Program
COVID-19 vaccines:
For information about vaccines for COVID-19, see
COVID-19 vaccination
.
About the school immunisation program
Victorian councils work in partnership with schools to offer the recommended vaccines free-of-charge for adolescents as part of the
National Immunisation
Program
External Link
.
Vaccines provided in secondary school
The following vaccines are provided free-of-charge to Year 7 and Year 10 (age equivalent) students.
Age
Disease
More information
12–13 years
Year 7
Booster
Diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis (whooping cough)
Getting your diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccination at school — what to
expect
External Link
Adolescent ‘booster’ dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccine -
brochure
External Link
12–13 years
Year 7
Single dose
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Getting your human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination at school — what to
expect
External Link
HPV (human papillomavirus
vaccine)
External Link
14–16 years
Year 10
Single dose
Meningococcal ACWY
Getting your meningococcal ACWY vaccination at school — what to
expect
External Link
Meningococcal ACWY
resources
External Link
Meningococcal ACWY vaccine for
teens
External Link
Consent for immunisation
Consent for each vaccine must be provided by parents, guardians or other medical treatment decision makers for students to receive free vaccinations at school.
Consent can be completed using a consent card or online (some schools) for the routine school vaccinations.
Preparing adolescents for school-based immunisations
Some useful tips for preparing adolescents for school-based immunisations include:
giving them a good breakfast
making sure they wear a loose shirt
ensure they are feeling well on the day
making sure they let the teacher or nurse know if they are feeling nervous or unwell.
Pre-immunisation checklist
It is important that students tell their immunisation provider if any of the following apply.
Are unwell on the day of immunisation (temperature over 38.5°C)
Previously had a severe reaction to any vaccine
Have any severe
allergies
such as an
anaphylactic
reaction to yeast or latex
Have a disease or are having treatment which causes low immunity.
Have a known hypersensitivity to diphtheria toxoid
Are pregnant
History of hives after a vaccine.
Find the full
pre-immunisation checklist on the Department of Health
website
External Link
.
After vaccination
Students should remain under observation at the place of vaccination for a minimum of 15 minutes to ensure that they do not experience an immediate adverse event, and for immunisation staff to provide rapid medical care if needed.
Vaccine information
- expand all
What is human papillomavirus?
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
is the name given to a group of viruses that affect both females and males. It is very common to be infected with one or more types of HPV shortly after sexual activity starts. While the body usually clears HPV infection naturally and there are no symptoms, HPV can cause serious illness; including almost all
cervical cancers
, cancers of the genital area and 60% of cancers of the
mouth
and
throat
.
What are the benefits of receiving the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine GARDASIL®9 protects against nine high risk HPV types that can cause cell abnormality and certain
cancers
. The benefits of HPV vaccines are greatest when given before exposure to the virus. If a vaccinated person comes into contact with these infections, their immune system is able to respond more effectively, preventing the disease developing or greatly reducing its severity. This is why we give the vaccine to young people in early high school before they become sexually active.
How is the vaccine given?
The HPV Gardasil®9 vaccine is given as a single injection into the upper arm for most people.
Some adolescents need a three-dose course of Gardasil®9 vaccine. Three doses of Gardasil®9 vaccine is recommended for:
a person who has a disease or is having treatment which causes low immunity (for example
HIV/AIDS
,
rheumatoid arthritis
, cancer,
radiotherapy
,
chemotherapy
or significant immunosuppressive treatment).
If a three dose course is required, see your
GP
or a local council immunisation service.
How safe is the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is safe and well tolerated. Vaccines used in Australia are safe and must pass strict safety testing before being approved by the
Therapeutic Goods Administration
(TGA)
External Link
. In addition, the TGA monitors the safety of vaccines once they are in use. Side effects after receiving the HPV vaccine are usually only very mild.
Will cervical screening tests be needed later in life?
Regular
cervical screening
(previously called a Pap smear) is still important for vaccinated women and people with a cervix, as the HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.
What is Diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial disease that causes inflammation of the
nose, throat
and trachea (windpipe). The bacteria produce toxins that cause an abnormal membrane to grow in the throat, making it difficult to swallow, breathe and can even lead to suffocation.
The bacteria produce a poison which can spread around the body and cause serious complications such as paralysis and
heart failure
. Around 10 per cent of people who contract diphtheria die from it.
Diphtheria can be caught when you inhale the cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person.
What is Tetanus?
Tetanus
is caused by bacteria which are live in soils, dust and manure. The bacteria can enter the body through a
wound
which may be as small as a pin prick. Tetanus cannot be passed from person to person.
Tetanus is a serious disease that causes muscle spasms and breathing problems. The bacteria produce toxins that affect the nervous system. It causes muscle spasms first felt in the neck and jaw muscles. Tetanus can lead to breathing difficulties, painful convulsions and abnormal heart rhythms. Around one in 10 people infected with the bacterium that causes tetanus will die.
Tetanus is uncommon in Australia because of the widespread use of the tetanus vaccine. Adolescents who have not been immunised against tetanus or who have not had a booster are at risk.
What is Whooping cough?
Whooping cough
is a highly contagious disease which affects the air passages and breathing. The disease causes severe coughing spasms. Coughing spasms are often followed by vomiting and the cough can last for months.
Whooping cough can be caught when you inhale the cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person.
Protection against whooping cough both from the disease and the vaccine decreases over time. Therefore, a booster dose of whooping cough vaccine is recommended for adolescents aged between 12 and 13 years to maintain immunity into adulthood.
How safe is the vaccine?
The diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough booster vaccine contains a small amount of diphtheria and tetanus toxins which are modified to make them harmless, small parts of purified components of whooping cough, a small amount of aluminium salt and preservative.
This booster vaccine has lower concentrations particularly of diphtheria and whooping cough components compared with the children’s vaccine.
The vaccine is safe and well tolerated in adolescents. This combination vaccine can be given at least 4 weeks after a recent tetanus-containing vaccine is given.
Why is a booster dose required?
Adolescents need a booster dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine to extend the protective level of diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough immunity into early adulthood.
How is the vaccine given?
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are only available in Australia as a combination vaccine.
The diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough booster vaccine consists of a single injection given into the upper arm.
What is Meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease
occurs when meningococcal bacteria, commonly found in the nose or throat, invades the body and causes serious disease. Older teenagers and young adults are most likely to carry the bacteria and spread it to others.
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a rare but serious disease. It most commonly presents as septicaemia (infection in the blood, also known as ‘bacteraemia’) or meningitis, (inflammation of the membrane covering of the brain). Occasionally, severe infection can also occur in the joints, throat, lungs or intestines.
Although the majority of people will recover if the infection is diagnosed early, the disease can cause complications that may result in permanent disabilities through loss of limbs, deafness, blindness, scarring, kidney or liver failure. Death can occur in up to 10 per cent of cases.
Globally, meningococcal serogroups A, B, C, W and Y most commonly cause disease. Vaccination is the key prevention against meningococcal disease.
What are the benefits of receiving the Meningococcal ACWY vaccination?
The Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is a four-in-one combined vaccine for protection against meningococcal A, C, W, Y strains.
Studies have shown that this vaccine can provide up to 97 per cent immunity in adolescents.
Adolescents who have previously received Meningococcal C vaccine should receive the Meningococcal ACWY vaccine to ensure optimal protection against all four strains of disease.
How is the vaccine given?
The Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is a single injection administered into the upper arm.
How safe is the vaccine?
Meningococcal ACWY vaccines have been shown to be safe in multiple large population studies (conducted in countries after the vaccines became available) in people of different ages, from infants to adults. Most reactions after vaccination are mild and resolve on their own. The vaccine does not contain any live bacteria and cannot cause meningococcal disease.
What are the possible side effects to vaccination?
There are possible
mild reactions
that follow immunisation and a very small risk of a
serious allergic reaction
to any vaccine. It is important students stay at the school or clinic where the immunisation was given for at least 15 minutes after being immunised to monitor for symptoms of a reaction. If you have any concern about any reaction to the vaccine/s your child received, contact your local council,
pharmacist
,
GP
or hospital.
Common mild side effects
Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
A temporary small lump at the injection site
Low grade fever
Feeling unwell
Headache
.
If mild reactions do occur, the side effects can be reduced by:
drinking extra fluids and not over-dressing if the person has a fever
taking paracetamol
placing a cold, wet cloth on the sore injection site.
If a student is known to
faint
or be very
anxious
, it may be better for them to be vaccinated with a GP rather than at school.
Uncommon side effects
Rash or
hives
If the student has a history of hives after a vaccine it is important that they tell their immunisation provider before vaccination.
Rare side effects
A severe allergic reaction, for example facial swelling, difficulty breathing.
In the rare event of a severe allergic reaction, immediate medical attention will be provided. If reactions are severe or persistent, or if you are worried, contact your doctor or hospital.
If a child is known to
faint
or be very
anxious
, it may be better for them to be vaccinated with a GP or local council community session rather than at school.
Immunisation side effects
should be reported to the
Victorian vaccine safety service
(SAFEVAC)
External Link
, the central reporting service in Victoria, on Tel.
1300 882 924
(select option 1), email
.
When a vaccine at school is missed
If your child missed a school immunisation they can visit their local council immunisation service, some pharmacies or a GP to receive the missed vaccine. This should be done as soon as possible.
The vaccines are free; however your immunisation provider may charge an administration or consultation fee.
Adolescents who don’t attend a mainstream secondary school
Adolescents who do not attend mainstream schools, who are enrolled in remote learning education or who are home schooled can receive immunisations with their local council immunisation service, some pharmacies or with a GP.
Adolescents with disability
Adolescents with disability should have the same access to immunisations as everyone else. The following resources can assist students with disability and their parents/carers to improve the immunisation experience:
Fact sheet – helping your child with disability get the HPV
vaccine
External Link
Animated video – supporting your child with disability get
vaccinated
External Link
Social story – preparing for school
vaccinations
External Link
Accessing immunisation records
All Immunisation providers are required to report vaccines provided to adolescents as part of the NIP to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
A copy of your child’s immunisation history statement is available from:
Medicare online account through
myGov
External Link
Medicare mobile
app
External Link
Australian Immunisation
Register
External Link
– Tel.
1800 653 809
Other available immunisations
Adolescents should get any missed routine childhood vaccinations. Your immunisation provider can provide advice on any early childhood immunisations that may have been missed, or any other immunisations that may be needed.
For further information refer to the
National Immunisation
Schedule
External Link
.
Where to get help
In an emergency, always call triple zero (000)
Your
GP (doctor)
Your local council immunisation service -
Find your council, Vic
Councils
External Link
NURSE-ON-CALL
(24 hours, 7 days) Tel.
1300 60 60 24
– for expert health information and advice
Immunisation Unit, Department of
Health
External Link
, Victorian Government email:
immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
National Immunisation Information
Line
External Link
Tel.
1800 671 811
SAFEVAC
External Link
Tel.
1300 882 924
- option 1 or email