Immunisation is a simple and effective way of protecting children from serious diseases and minimising its spread through the broader community. Early childhood services are now required to keep a copy of children’s immunisation records, allowing SA Health to act quickly to prevent the spread of a vaccine-preventable disease.
Services such as childcare, family day care, preschool, kindergarten and early learning centres need to have current immunisation records on site.
In some cases, the early childhood service may approach a carer directly to request an immunisation record. The carer should then contact the child’s caseworker, who will arrange for the necessary documentation to be provided.
What immunisations do children in care need?
Children and young people in care must receive all immunisations required in the National Immunisation Program (South Australia Schedule) and the Annual Funded Influenza Program at the recommended times. These schedules set out the immunisations children should receive by age group, ranging from babies to adolescence and adulthood.
As outlined in Who Can Say OK?, DCP case workers are responsible for making sure a child or young person is up-to-date with all immunisations. Carers are authorised to arrange vaccines for children in their care, but must let the case worker know so it can be noted on the child or young person’s case record.