Changes to the Public Health Act 2016 (WA) and the School Education Act 1999 (WA) have now come into effect in an effort to help to increase vaccination rates of children in Western Australia (WA) and better protect the community from vaccine preventable notifiable infectious diseases.
Under these new changes, a child’s immunisation status must be ‘up to date’ according to their AIR Immunisation History Statement for the child to be permitted to enrol into long day care, family day care, pre-kindergarten or kindergarten
Exceptions apply to children who have an approved medical exemption to a vaccine, have natural immunity to a specific disease, are on an approved catch-up schedule, or are identified as exempt because of particular family circumstances.
Immunisation providers may receive queries from parents of children who are not currently recorded as ’up-to-date‘ with their immunisations on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
How you can assist:
- Ensure each child’s vaccinations are recorded in the AIR
- If a child is following an approved catch-up schedule, provide a copy of the child’s AIR immunisation history form advising the child is on a catch-up schedule to the parent/guardian
- Continue to follow up overdue children
Further information about WA’s immunisation requirements can be found on the “Childhood Immunisation” HealthPathway, or you can visit the Health WA website to download the following resources:
- Starting child care, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten – a parent factsheet
- WA Immunisation Requirements: Guidelines for persons in charge of child care services, community kindergartens and schools.
Further queries in relation to the new legislation can be emailed to immunisation@health.wa.gov.au.