Barwon Health will again be providing their Secondary School Immunisation Program in 2023.

Year Seven students will be able to receive their GARDASIL (Human Papillomavirus) dose 1 (2nd dose on 3/11) and BOOSTRIX (diphtheria, tetanus & whooping cough) on Thursday 02.03.23. All forms need to be returned, regardless of consent given or withheld for immunisation, and these will be collected by Barwon Health on Friday 04.02.23.

Year Ten students will be able to receive their NIMENRIX (meningococcal ACWY) on Thursday 10.08.23. Forms will go home in Week Two of Term One and again, all forms need to be returned, regardless of consent given or withheld for immunisation. These will be collected by Barwon Health on Thursday 03.03.23.

Please see below for the information we share with Barwon Health to provide this service. Importantly, if you do wish to have your data withheld, you must let us know before Feb 14th.

Julianna Garcia
Assistant Principal

Secondary School Immunisation Program

Dear parent/guardian
The Secondary School Immunisation Program offers free vaccines to all eligible Year 7 and Year 10 students.
Year 7 students

• Diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough (pertussis) - single injection 
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) – two injections, spaced a minimum of six months apart

Year 10 students

• Meningococcal ACWY – single injection

The local council immunisation service, Barwon Health immunisation service, delivers the school-based immunisation program. They provide immunisation consent forms to your child’s school for your child to bring home. Parents/guardians are required to complete and return the immunisation consent forms to their child’s school, whether consent is YES or NO to immunisation, so that your wishes can be recorded.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 authorises secondary schools to provide their local council with student and parent/guardian contact information for any student scheduled to receive a vaccination. This information is only used to assist local councils to follow-up parents/guardians of students with incomplete or missing immunisation consent forms.
What information is given to local council?
The school provides the following basic student and parent/guardian contact information to the local council immunisation service:

• student name, date of birth, gender, year level and class group, parent/guardian contact details and Language spoken at home.

Why does the school provide this information?

• To improve communication with parents/guardians regarding their child’s vaccination needs.
• To ensure all eligible students are offered the opportunity to access free vaccinations at school.
• To reduce the administrative burden on school staff to follow-up consent forms.
• To eliminate manual data entry processes.

What do I need to do?

1. Read the information provided in your child’s consent form and complete all sections.
2. Return the immunisation consent form with all relevant fields completed to school, even if you choose not to consent for your child to be vaccinated as part of the secondary school immunisation program.
3. Your information will be provided to Barwon Health immunisation service on Tuesday 15^th February 2023 If you do not wish for your details to be provided, please advise the school in writing before the 14^th February 2023.

Every day vaccination saves lives and makes it possible for Victorians to live free from the illness and disability caused by many infectious diseases.
For further information please go to https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/immunisation-in-secondary- schools