Immunisation Certificates

Yes – if your school is a primary school.

It is a legal requirement that a parent/guardian present an Immunisation History Statement on enrolment to the primary school that the child will attend.

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) issues Immunisation History Statements.

By law, primary schools are required to request and record information on the immunisation status of students prior to enrolment. Parents or guardians must provide an immunisation status certificate to the school regardless of whether the child is or is not immunised.

From 28 February 2018 only an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register can be accepted as proof of immunisation status on school entry.

Documents produced by GPs or other immunisation providers are no longer acceptable as school entry immunisation status certificates.

If a child moves schools, it is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that the Immunisation History Statement is transferred from one school to the other.

There are potential health consequences as, according to DHHS, ‘a record of a child’s immunisation status is invaluable in the event of a vaccine preventable disease outbreak in a school situation where it is imperative that children are quickly identified as being protected/not protected against a disease’.

Elspeth Adamson
Manager, Student Services
Ph. 03 9825 7204
elspeth.adamson@is.vic.edu.au

Peter Roberts
Director, School Services
Ph. 9825 7211
peter.roberts@is.vic.edu.au