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About the NSW School Vaccination Program

NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended and funded for adolescents by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in a school-based vaccination program, including:

  • diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa)
  • human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • meningococcal ACWY.

COVID-19 vaccination is not part of the NSW School Vaccination Program. For information about COVID-19 vaccination visit COVID-19 vaccination booking.​

 

Consent for school vaccination

Consent for each vaccine must be provided by parents/guardians for students to receive free vaccinations at school.

From 2024 parents/guardians can provide consent online for their child’s routine school vaccinations on the online consent portal. Select login with Service NSW Account.

To provide online consent you will need:

  • your Service NSW log-in details
  • Medicare card details for you and your child.

Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online.

Translated guides are available in Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese.

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form – available on request from schools.

Parents can withdraw consent at any time before vaccination takes place:

  • where consent has been given online, please log-in to the secure NSW Health portal and follow the prompts to withdraw consent, or
  • where consent has been given on the physical consent form, please write to or call the school to advise the student's name, school grade and those vaccines the withdrawn consent applies to.

Secondary schools

Students in secondary schools in 2024 will be offered the following vaccines:

VaccineSchool YearConsumer Medicines Information (CMI)Number of dosesMore information
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTpa)Year 7 Boostrix
1 dose
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)Year 7 Gardasil9
1 dose
Meningococcal ACWYYear 10 Nimenrix1 dose

Missed vaccinations

Students who miss vaccination due to absence on the day of the school vaccination clinic may 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 or pharmacist immuniser.

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 or pharmacist. This may incur a consultation fee. More information is available about catch-up vaccination.

Following vaccination - what to expect and what to do

Some people may experience some mild and temporary side effects following vaccination this includes:

  • headache and tiredness for a day or two
  • slightly red, itchy or sore arm for a day or two
  • a small lump at the injection site. This may last for a few weeks. This usually does not require any treatment.

What to do if a local reaction occurs at the injection site

  • If allowed, take paracetamol for pain. Follow the directions on the packaging.
  • Put a cold damp cloth on the injection site to relieve tenderness.
  • Drink extra fluids.

If your child has an unexpected reaction that you are concerned about please contact your doctor or seek medical attention.

For more information refer to Following vaccination - what to expect and what to do.

Information and resources

Intensive English Centres (IECs)

Newly-arrived migrants (including refugees) attending Intensive English Centres (IECs) who may have not have previously received vaccinations routinely offered in Australia will be offered the following vaccines:

All ages

Vaccine
Consumer Medicines Information (CMI)Number of dosesMore information
Hepatitis B Engerix-B2 doses
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTpa) Boostrix1 dose
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Priorix2 doses
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Gardasil91 dose
Polio
IPOL2 doses
Varicella (chicken pox)
Varivax
1 dose



15-19 year ​old only

Vaccine
Consumer Medicines Information (CMI)Number of dosesMore information
Meningococcal ACWY Nimenrix1 dose

More information

  • 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 or pharmacist immuniser.
  • Translated information about IEC vaccination is available in 27 languages.

Distance education/home schooled students

Students​ who are enrolled in distance education or who are home-schooled are advised to attend their GP, pharmacist immuniser, 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.


Current as at: Monday 5 August 2024
Contact page owner: Immunisation