The Department of Health is reminding parents of year 8 students to sign and return their immunisation consent form, to ensure their child does not miss out on important childhood vaccines.
Offered throughout secondary schools, as part of the national immunisation program, the vaccines will help protect students against vaccine-preventable diseases into adulthood.
Year 8 students each receive a consent form and information pack from their school early in term 1. To receive the vaccination, consent forms must be signed and returned.
Medical Coordinator of Communicable Disease Control Paul Effier urged parents to look out for the information pack and consent form and return it to the school as soon as possible.
“If you do not see the information pack, ask your child to have a look in their school bag for it,” Professor Effler said.
“If it can’t be found, get in touch with your school for a replacement.”
Professor Effler said that one of the most common reasons that people did not have their year 8 child immunised was simply that they forget to return the consent form or did not see the form in their child’s bag.
“It is also important to complete the full immunisation schedule. If your child misses out on one of the offered vaccine doses during the year, you should visit your GP or immunisation provider to get vaccinated.”
The Year 8 statewide vaccination program includes the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for girls and boys to defend against cervical, head and throat cancer, as well as the chickenpox vaccine and a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.
These vaccines are available free to every Year 8 student whose parents have signed the appropriate consent form.
In addition to the standard Year 8 immunisation program, the Meningococcal ACWY Vaccination Program will also be offered to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 2017.
Parents will receive vaccination consent materials through their child’s school in terms 2 and 3.
A video with more information about the standard school-based immunisations can be found in the Healthy Living section on the Healthy WA website: healthywa.wa.gov.au/immunisation.
