The Department of Health is reminding parents of Year 7 and 10 students to sign and return immunisation consent forms to ensure their children don’t miss out on important, free vaccinations.
Western Australia’s school-based vaccination program aims to protect teens against serious illnesses including whooping cough, invasive meningococcal disease, and cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.
Year 10 students will receive the meningococcal ACWY vaccine to combat an increase in this potentially deadly disease.
Last year, more than 25,000 Year 10 students received the vaccine through WA’s school-based program.
Year 7 students will be offered the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine along with a booster dose of dTpa vaccine which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis – or whooping cough. Last year, more than 28,000 Year 7 students received these vaccinations at school.
Australia was the first country in the world to offer a school-based government-funded HPV vaccination program back in 2007 and has already resulted in a significant decline in rates of genital warts and pre-cancerous cervical lesions among young Australians.
Students will receive consent forms and information packs early in Term 1.
Parents must sign and return the consent forms in order for a child to receive the free vaccinations at school.
If you don’t see the information pack early in Term 1, please get in touch with your school for a replacement.
If your child is absent from school on vaccination day, you should visit your GP or immunisation provider to make sure they are protected.
See Where can I get my vaccination on the HealthyWA website for community clinics offering vaccinations and check the immunisation pages for information on WA’s school-based immunisation program.
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