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Children in Victoria need a certificate before they start primary school that shows whether or not they have been vaccinated against a range of diseases. You can use a letter issued by your local council or doctor, or the history statement that is provided by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). You will automatically receive a statement from ACIR after your child has completed the four-year-old vaccine schedule and has received all the childhood immunisations required.
Children need a school entry immunisation status certificate before they start primary school that shows whether or not they have been vaccinated against a range of diseases. This is a legal requirement for primary school enrolment. You can use the history statement provided by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) or a letter issued by your local council or doctor. A council or doctor needs to see all original immunisation records before they can issue a letter.
Opportunity to catch up missed doses
Obtaining the status certificate is an excellent time to check your child’s immunisation records are up to date. Measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, meningococcal C disease, chickenpox and polio are life-threatening diseases that children can catch and spread. Your child should have received vaccines to protect against all these diseases before starting school. Your local council or doctor can immunise your child to catch up any missed vaccine doses.
Your child’s immunisation record
School entry immunisation status certificates contain the status of your child’s immunisation record. It must include your child’s name, date of birth, address and the name and the date of all vaccines your child has received.
In the event of a parent who is a conscientious objector to immunisation and their child has not received any vaccines, the child will still require a status certificate with their name, date of birth and address, stating that the child is unvaccinated.
Homeopathic immunisation is not a recognised form of immunisation and is not acceptable under the legislation. Therefore, it cannot be listed on an immunisation status certificate.
It is a legal requirement to provide a school entry immunisation status certificate when you enrol your child in primary school in Victoria.
Essential information for schools
The school principal and health authorities need to know whether or not your child has been immunised. This information will help health authorities to protect children if there is a case or an outbreak of infectious disease at the school, for which children can be vaccinated. Children who have not been vaccinated may be excluded from the school in the event of an outbreak.
Obtaining a certificate from the ACIR
You will automatically receive a history statement from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) after your child has completed the four-year-old vaccine schedule.
If your child has completed all immunisations but you have not received a history statement, or if you have lost your child’s history statement, call ACIR on 1800 653 809.
Make sure that ACIR has your current address details so that you receive your child’s history statement. If you are moving, or have recently moved, contact them to update your contact details.
Give the status certificate to your school
When you enrol your child in school, you will need to give the staff your certificate.
Immunisation and HALO
The immunisations you may need are decided by your health, age, lifestyle and occupation. Together, these factors are referred to as HALO.
Where to get help
- The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) Tel. 1800 653 809
- Your local council
- Department of Health Victoria Immunisation Section Tel. 1300 882 008
- National Immunisation Infoline Tel. 1800 671 811
Things to remember
- All children need a school entry immunisation status certificate before they start school to show whether or not they have been vaccinated.
- The certificate is issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) or you can contact your local council or doctor.
You might also be interested in:
- Diphtheria.
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
- Hepatitis B - immunisation.
- Immunisation - childhood.
- Measles.
- Mumps.
- Polio - immunisation.
- Rubella.
- Tetanus.
- Victorian Child Health Record.
- Whooping cough.
Want to know more?
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Fact sheet currently being reviewed.
Last reviewed: August 2011
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
Children in Victoria need a certificate before they start primary school that shows whether or not they have been vaccinated against a range of diseases. You can use a letter issued by your local council or doctor, or the history statement that is provided by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). You will automatically receive a statement from ACIR after your child has completed the four-year-old vaccine schedule and has received all the childhood immunisations required.
Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.
For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Copyight © 1999/2013 State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.
