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Update on school vaccination during COVID-19
While the NSW School Vaccination Program has been disrupted due to low student attendance, students are progressively returning to school over the coming months. NSW Health has implemented additional measures based on expert clinical advice to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission in school clinics. Advice about these additional measures has been developed for parents/guardians and schools.
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NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended for adolescents by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in a school-based vaccination program.
Parent information kits are sent home to parents early in the school year. To consent to vaccination, parents are advised to read all the information provided, complete and sign the consent form and return it to their child's school.
Secondary schools
Students in secondary schools in 2020 are being offered the following vaccines:
- Free vaccine is only available at school to students who have a signed consent form while they are in Year 7 (for dTpa or HPV vaccination) or Year 10 (for meningococcal ACWY vaccination).
- Students who miss vaccine doses due to absence on the day of the nurses' visit will be offered catch-up vaccination at subsequent school clinics. Where this is not possible, parents will be advised that free catch-up vaccine is available at their local GP.
- Parents who choose to wait for their child to be older before consenting to vaccination will be required to arrange for vaccination at their GP and may have to pay a consultation fee. More information is available about catch-up vaccination.
- Parents can withdraw consent at any time before vaccination takes place.
- Coverage rates for all vaccines offered to students in secondary schools from 2011 to 2018 are available.
- Information about the vaccinations is also available in 26 community languages.
- A video (Whatchya Gunna DO?) has been produced to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation for Aboriginal adolescents and their parents.
Intensive English Centres (IECs)
Newly-arrived migrants (including refugees) attending Intensive English Centres (IECs) will be offered the following vaccines based on student age:
All ages
12 year olds only
Less than 14 years of age
15-19 year olds only
- Students who miss vaccine doses due to absence on the day of the clinic will be advised to receive any catch-up vaccination at their local GP.
- Parents can withdraw consent at any time before vaccination takes place.
- Information about the vaccinations is also available in 26 community languages.
Distance education/home-schooled students
Students who are enrolled in distance education or who are home-schooled are advised to attend their GP or other immunisation provider for free age-appropriate vaccinations.
For more information about the NSW School Vaccination Program in your area contact your local public health unit (PHU) by calling 1300 066 055.