Immunisation policy.

Aim: The centre will minimise risks, complications, and the spread of vaccine preventable diseases, by encouraging children, centre staff, and other staff members to have up to date immunisation in accordance with the National Immunisation Program Schedule and keeping an up-to-date register of children’s and staff immunisation. Immunisation is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come in contact with them in the community. Immunisation not only protects individuals, but others in the community, by reducing the spread of disease.

Implementation strategies:

Immunisation Records

Parents who wish to enrol their child are required to provide a copy of one or more of the following at the time of enrolment:

• A current Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement which shows that the child is up to date with their scheduled immunisations in line with the NSW Immunisation Schedule.

• A current AIR Immunisation History Form on which the immunisation provider has certified that the child is on a recognized catch-up schedule in line with the NSW Immunisation Schedule.

• An AIR Immunisation Exemption – Medical Contraindication Form which has been certified by an immunisation provider for a child who cannot receive one or more vaccine(s) for medical reasons.

The following groups of children have 12 weeks from the date of enrolment to provide immunisation documentation as it is recognised they may need extra time to source records:

• Children subject to a guardianship order under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998.

• Children placed in out of home care.

• Children being cared for by an adult who is not their parent due to exceptional circumstances like illness or incapacity.

• Children who have been evacuated following a state of emergency.

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children.

The AIR maintains immunisation records for children up until their 20^th birthday and can be contacted on 1800 653 809. AIR Immunisation History and Exemption forms are available on the Services Australia website:cc https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/australian-immunisation-register

Parents/guardians must provide the Service with an updated copy of their child’s immunisation record when the child receives a vaccine which is on the National or State immunisation schedule. We will regularly remind parents to do this via notices, emails, letters or through the centres App.

Immunisation Register

Our service will keep an Immunisation Register which:

• records the immunisation status of each child enrolled at the Service and

• contains immunisation certificates and other certificates provided by parents.

An Immunisation register template is available from http://www.health.nsw.gov.au

If requested, our Service will provide a copy of the record and certificates kept for a child in the Immunisation Register to:

• the parent of the child so they can enrol the child at another education and care Service, or

• the Approved provider or Nominated Supervisor of another Service at which the child may enrol with permission from the child’s parent/guardian.

Information about each child will be kept for three years from the date a child last attends the service.

Catering for Children with Overseas Immunisation Records

Overseas immunisation records must not be accepted. They often differ from the schedule recommended in Australia and a child may require extra vaccinations to be up to date with the Australian schedule. Parents are responsible for having their child’s overseas immunisation record transcribed onto the AIR.

Children vaccinated overseas must attend an immunisation provider (e.g., doctor) to have their overseas record assessed and be offered appropriate immunisation. The Provider will complete an Immunisation History Form which should be provided to the service when it is received by families. A copy of the AIR Immunisation History Statement should also be provided to the service when it is received by families.

Exclusion Periods

• Any child that is not fully immunised may be excluded for a period of time if there is a case of a vaccine preventable disease at the service, or if the child has been in contact with someone outside the Service who has a vaccine preventable disease. We will consider the Exclusion Periods recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

• It is the responsibility of families to inform the Service that their child has come into contact with someone with a vaccine preventable or infectious disease.

• Parents are responsible for payment of fees while their child is excluded.

Immunisation for Educators

It is important that educators remain up to date with their vaccinations in order to protect themselves as well as children in their care. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend that educators should be immunised against -

• Hepatitis A

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Educators born during or since 1966 who do not have vaccination records of two doses of MMR, or do not have antibodies for rubella, require vaccination

• Varicella if they have not previously been infected with chickenpox

• Pertussis (whooping cough). An adult booster dose is especially important for those educators caring for the youngest children who are not fully vaccinated

• Influenza (annually)

• COVID-19

• Hepatitis B if caring for unimmunised children with intellectual disabilities (although the risk is low).

The Nominated Supervisor will:

• regularly provide educators and staff with information about diseases that can be prevented by immunisation through fact sheets and the Staying Healthy in Childcare publication

• strongly encourage all non-immune staff to be vaccinated

• advise pregnant educators and staff to review the Staying Healthy in Childcare publication and consult their medical practitioner in regards to vaccine preventable illnesses that may affect pregnancy

• ensure pregnant educators and staff follow good infection control and hygiene procedures

• exclude all non-immune (unvaccinated) educators and staff for the periods outlined under Exclusion Periods during an outbreak of an infectious disease or until they determine it is safe for the educator to return

Immunisation Related Payments for Parents - Child Care Subsidy

The benefit applies to children who are fully immunised or have an approved medical exemption from immunisation. This initiative ensures parents are reminded of the importance of immunising their children at each of the milestones. For parents to receive CCS without their child being fully immunised their doctor or immunisation provider needs to certify that the child:

• is on a catch-up immunisation schedule, or

• has an approved exemption from the immunisation requirements. Approved exemptions include medical contraindication and existing natural immunity but do not include conscientious objection.

Information on how a child’s immunisation status affects payments made to a family, and more information on exemptions is available on the following website -

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/

Parents are responsible for payment of fees while their child is excluded under all circumstances.

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule can be accessed and downloaded from https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-immunisation-program-schedule

NSW Phone number 1300 066 055

The NSW Immunisation Schedule and immunisation exemption certificates for medical contraindication can be accessed from http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Local NSW Public Health Unit Contact Details are also available at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Note homeopathic immunisation is not recognised.

Sources Education and Care Services National Regulations
National Quality Standard
National Immunisation Program Schedule
NHMRC. Staying Healthy Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services 6th edition
Public Health Act 2010

Public Health Regulation 2012

Immunisation Enrolment Toolkit for ECEC Services NSW Health

Medicare Australia

Service Australia

No Jab No Pay Legislation Federal Government

This policy is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.