Local councils are required under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 to provide immunisation services to children living or being educated within their municipality.
Maroondah City Council sends out information and consent card booklets to all secondary schools in the municipality. Parents/guardians of Year 7 and 10 students should look out for the vaccine card booklet coming home from school with your child.
The Secondary School Vaccine Program offers free vaccinations to Year 7 and 10 students.
These vaccines provide protection against:
- Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough (Pertussis) – administered in one dose for Year 7 students.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) – administered in two doses for Year 7 students.
- Meningococcal ACWY – administered in one dose for Year 10 students.
Deputy Mayor, Cr Marijke Graham, said it was important for parents to read the information, sign and return the consent card regardless of whether their child is being vaccinated at school or elsewhere.
“The last time parents had to think about immunisation for their child was just before they began school, usually seven or eight years previously,” Cr Graham said.
“The forms that students will bring home provide information on the scheduled vaccinations, with a consent card to be completed and returned to the school. If your child has already received their immunisation elsewhere, or if you simply choose not to use Council’s immunisation service, it is still important to complete the cards and return them to the school,” she said.
Both males and females in Year 7 receive the HPV vaccine Gardasil. The vaccine has been developed to protect against nine HPV types that cause around 90 per cent of cervical cancers in women (and many other HPV-related cancers in women), and 95 per cent of all HPV-related cancers in men.
The scheduled immunisation for Year 10 students is the Meningococcal A, C, W135 and Y vaccine.
The Meningococcal vaccine is a four-in-one combined vaccine for protection against Meningococcal A, C, W and Y strains.
Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious infection which can cause sudden onset of serious illness including septicaemia (blood infection).
Vaccines are administered by immunisation nurses, employed by Maroondah City Council’s Immunisation Service, who visit local schools several times a year.
“Council’s Immunisation Service is fully accredited in compliance with AS/NZS ISO 9001 Quality Standards, so parents can feel confident of a safe and effective service,” Cr Graham said.
Catch-up vaccinations for adolescents
All people under 20 years of age are eligible to receive free catch-up vaccines. If students require catch-up vaccines, please advise them to speak to their immunisation provider (i.e. local council or GP).
