Early Learning Centre Immunisation Policy Legislation ACT Public Health Regulations (2000) National Quality Standard / Education and Care Services National Regulations Standard 2.1 Each child s health is promoted Element 2.1.1 Each child s health needs are supported. Element 2.1.3 Effective hygiene practices are promoted and implemented. Element 2.1.4 Steps are taken to control the spread of infectious diseases and to manage injuries and illness, in accordance with recognized guidelines. Regulation 77 Regulation 88 Regulation 162 Regulation 168 Health, safety and wellbeing of children Infectious diseases Health information to be kept in enrolment record Education and care services must have policies and procedures Aim: The Canberra Girls Grammar School Early Learning Centre and Junior School encourages children and staff to be fully immunised. We provide families and staff with information on immunisation, vaccines and recognised exclusion periods defined by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Explanation: Immunisation is a means of protecting people against diseases that can have serious complications. Immunisation, defined exclusion periods and good hygiene practices reduces the potential risk of exposure within school settings. Practice: Immunisation records for all students will be required at, or before, the student s initial enrolment interview. For students commencing in the Early Learning Centre (Reception or Pre-Prep), two copies of the child s immunisation record are required. For students commencing in the Junior School (Prep Year 6), one copy of the child s immunisation record is required. Valid immunisation information must be provided in the form of the Immunisation History Statement provided by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) (This can be printed from the Medicare section of the mygov.com.au website or can be obtained by calling 1800 653 809). Parents who choose not to immunise their child must provide this information to the School, in writing. This information must be received at, or before, the student s initial enrolment interview.
Parents are responsible for providing the School with an updated copy of immunisation information each time their child receives an immunisation. This information should be provided within one week of the immunisation. Overseas immunisation schedules often differ from the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP). Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child s overseas immunisation documents are transcribed on to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). This may only be done by a medical practitioner, registered nurse, enrolled midwife or person authorised by the ACT Chief Health Officer. Further information can be obtained from the Immunisation Information Line on 02 6205 2300. The transcribed immunisation record is required at, or before, the student s initial enrolment interview. Families who choose not to immunise their child, those who fail to provide information about their child s immunisation status and those who do not provide updated information following immunisations, will be informed that their child will be excluded from care if there is a case of a communicable disease within the School, based on advice from the Public Health Unit. Regular fees will be payable during any period of absence. Government child care subsidies ( Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate, Family Tax Benefit Part A), where applicable, will be forfeited when complete immunisation information is not provided. In cases where children experience medical conditions which prevent them from being immunised according to the National Childhood Immunisation Program, parents need to complete a Medical Contraindication form, which is signed by their medical practitioner and submitted to the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register. A letter, with supporting documentation from ACIR, stating that the child has not been immunised for medical reasons must be provided to the School. In these circumstances, the child will be excluded in the case of an outbreak of a communicable disease, but Government child care subsidies, where applicable, will not be affected. A copy of the National Immunisation Program Schedule and National Health and Medical Research Council s recommended minimum exclusion periods is provided as Appendix A to this policy. This information will also be provided to all staff and families in the ELC and Junior School handbooks when they commence at the School, and is on display around the ELC and Junior School. The School will maintain up to date student immunisation records on the student database system (Synergetic), in order to quickly notify the parents of any un-immunised students in the case of an outbreak of communicable disease within the School. Families will be given reminder notifications once a term when immunisation information is not complete or scheduled immunisations are overdue, to ensure the School has the most up to date
immunisation record for each child. Parents are required to provide updated information within one week of this notification. Policy written 27/10/2017 Appendix 1 National Immunisation Program Schedule (From 20 April 2015) Source: http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/content/national-immuni sation-program-schedule Child programs Age Vaccine Birth Hepatitis B (hepb) a 2 months Rotavirus 4 months Rotavirus 6 months Rotavirus b 12 months Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal C (Hib-MenC) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) 18 months Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (chickenpox) (MMRV) 4 years Diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough) and inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) (DTPa-IPV) Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (to be given only if MMRV vaccine was not given at 18 months)
School programs Age 10 15 years (contact your State or Territory Health Department for details) Vaccine Varicella (chickenpox) c Human papillomavirus (HPV) d Diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) (dtpa)