Immunisations

Eligibility for free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) is linked to eligibility for Medicare benefits.

The Regional Shared Service runs public immunisation sessions each month across the City of Casey, Cardinia Shire and Baw Baw Shire. Residents can book an eligible session in any of the three council areas. Public sessions are for government-funded vaccines only. Please check your eligibility before booking. If you need a vaccine that is not available through the public program, please contact your GP.

Before booking, check whether your child is due or overdue for any vaccines. You can do this by:

• checking your Medicare online account. Children aged 14 years and over need to check their own Medicare account
• using the Express Plus Medicare mobile app
• visiting a Medicare Service Centre
• calling the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809

Council immunisation sessions support children to receive eligible vaccines under the National Immunisation Program. Before booking, check whether your child is due or overdue for any vaccines, including any catch-up vaccines they may need.

Please bring the following items to your child’s appointment:

• your child’s Child Health Record Book, also known as the green book
• your Medicare card
• any relevant immunisation records, letters or catch-up plans
• something to comfort your child, such as a favourite toy.

Please do not attend if you or your child is unwell or has a contagious illness. Rebook your appointment for another date when your child is well enough to be immunised.

A parent or legal guardian must provide consent before a child under 18 can be immunised. Immunisation staff will explain the vaccine, including the risks and benefits, before vaccination.

Secondary school students in Year 7 and Year 10, or age-equivalent students, are offered free vaccines through the Victorian Secondary School Immunisation Program as part of the National Immunisation Program. Council works with secondary schools and HCA to deliver school-based immunisation sessions for eligible students.

• Year 7 students are offered vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
• Year 10 students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

Parents, guardians or other medical treatment decision makers must provide consent before students under 18 can be vaccinated at school, unless the student is assessed as a mature minor. Schools will provide information about the program and how to give or decline consent before the scheduled vaccination day.

If a student misses their school immunisation session, they may still be able to receive eligible vaccines through a council public immunisation session, their GP or another approved immunisation provider. Please check the student’s immunisation history before booking a catch-up appointment.

On vaccination day, students should eat breakfast, wear clothing that makes the upper arm easy to access and tell the nurse or teacher if they feel unwell, nervous, have allergies, are pregnant, have a medical condition or have previously had a reaction to a vaccine. Students must remain under observation for 15 minutes after vaccination.

Adults may be eligible for free vaccines under the National Immunisation Program or Victorian Government-funded programs, depending on their age, health, pregnancy status, occupation, medical risk factors or previous vaccination history. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, check the current vaccine eligibility criteria before booking or speak with your GP.

Before booking an adult immunisation appointment, check your immunisation history and confirm which vaccine you need. Some adults may need catch-up vaccines, seasonal vaccines or vaccines recommended for specific life stages, such as pregnancy or older age.

Please bring the following items to your adult immunisation appointment:

• your Medicare card, if you have one
• any relevant immunisation records or history statements
• any letters or advice from your GP, specialist or health professional
• details of any allergies, medical conditions or previous vaccine reactions.

Please do not attend if you are unwell or have a contagious illness. Rebook your appointment for another date when you are well enough to be immunised.

Immunisation staff will explain the vaccine, including the risks and benefits, before vaccination. After vaccination, you must remain at the session for 15 minutes so staff can monitor for any unexpected reactions.

After vaccination, your child must remain at the session for 15 minutes so staff can monitor for any unexpected reactions. HCA will send your child’s immunisation record to the Australian Immunisation Register. This helps you access:

• an immunisation history statement for childcare, kindergarten or school enrolment
• any family assistance payments linked to immunisation requirements.

Healthcare Australia manages immunisation bookings for the Regional Shared Service. If you are using the booking system for the first time, you will need to create an account before choosing an appointment. To book an appointment, visit HCA’s Regional Shared Service booking page: Book My Vaccination

You can also view the shared service immunisation schedules for:

• City of Casey
• Cardinia Shire
• Baw Baw Shire

You can also visit HCA’s Regional Shared Service page to book, change or cancel an immunisation appointment.

From 1 January 2016, the Victorian State Government's new No Jab No Play legislation came into effect.

This legislation requires all children to be fully vaccinated before they can be enrolled in childcare and kindergarten, to help protect all children from serious and possibly life-threatening preventable infectious diseases.

To find out more about what this means for enrolling your child in Family Day Care and Kindergarten, go to No Jab No Play.