School Based Vaccination Program
Council's Immunisation Services team visits the city's 42 secondary and special schools up to three times each year. The vaccinations offered in the school vaccination program are free of charge.
Immunisation consent forms for Year 8 and Year 10 students are delivered to schools each January to be disseminated to parents/carers and legal guardians. The completed consent forms are required to be returned to the school within a week of receiving them to ensure adequate time for processing.
Vaccines Offered in the 2013 School Vaccination Program
HPV (Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts) Vaccine
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine will be offered to all Year 8 students with an expanded program to include Year 10 male students in 2013 and 2014. The school vaccination program consists of three doses of HPV vaccine being administered to achieve maximum protection.
In light of these changes, a new website for the national HPV vaccination program has been launched by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. This site contains useful information for both parents and students and is highly recommended.
If you require information regarding your student’s eligibility for free vaccination, contact Council's Immunisation Services on (07) 5581 6709 or email immunise@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.
Hepatitis B and Chickenpox Vaccines
These vaccines are now offered to children before two years of age. All Year 8 students will still be offered the Hepatitis B and Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccines, however if your student has already received a course of Hepatitis B vaccine or has had the Chickenpox disease or the Chickenpox vaccine, they do not need to have the Chickenpox or Hepatitis B vaccine at school.
The school vaccination program is for students who have not received these vaccines.
Students receive two (2) adult dose Hepatitis B vaccines at the beginning and end of the year and one (1) dose of the Chickenpox vaccine, usually administered in the middle visit.
BoostrixTM Vaccine
All Year 10 students will be offered the BoostrixTM vaccine, which is a combined vaccine to protect against Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Whooping Cough). This is a vaccine to boost immunity received from childhood vaccinations.
Missed School Vaccinations
Students who have missed vaccinations in the year they were eligible at school that is, in Year 8 and/or Year 10, can still access these vaccines free of charge up to 31 December the following year at any one of Council’s Immunisation Clinics or through your family doctor.
For further information, contact Council’s Immunisation Services on (07) 5581 6709.
