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There have been updates to the Western Australian school-based immunisation program
- Commencing from Term 1, school-based immunisation program (SBIP) teams will offer Human papillomavirus (HPV), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTpa), Meningococcal ACWY (Men ACWY) vaccines to students in Year 7 and 10.
- From 6 February 2023, healthy young people aged 12-13 years will only need one dose of the HPV vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated.
- COVID-19 vaccines will be offered to those who are not up to date.
- VaccinateWA online platform to be used to gain consent and record vaccinations.
- Paper forms will be made available to parents/guardians who cannot access VaccinateWA. SBIP teams will advise of how to access these.
- Information from paper forms will be entered into the VaccinateWA system, this means parents/guardians will receive email correspondence from the VaccinateWA system.
- Schools are asked to assist the SBIP teams in following up parents who do not provide a response to the consent form.
The free vaccinations at school to protect students against serious infectious diseases
Each year, immunisation nurses attend secondary schools across WA to provide adolescent immunisations that are recommended under the National Immunisation Program.
Year 7 students
Year 7 students can get the HPV vaccine and a booster dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccine. These vaccines protect against whooping cough, genital warts and some cancers.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine schedule change 2023
From 6 February 2023, year 7 students will only require one HPV vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated. This change follows the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) advice that a single dose gives excellent protection that is comparable to protection from two doses.
Parents/guardians may have already provided consent for two doses of HPV vaccine, however, once students receive one dose, they will not need any further doses.
Year 10 students
Year 10 students can get the meningococcal ACWY vaccine to protect against four strains of the disease. Meningococcal spreads easily and older teenagers have some of the highest rates of infection.
Consent forms
Parents/guardians must complete the form to consent (or decline) vaccination via VaccinateWA or by filling out the hard copy form from school.
For more information visit healthywa.wa.gov.au/schoolimmunisations
Schools are encouraged to use the above information to promote the school-based immunisation program and HPV vaccine schedule change to parents, guardians and the school community through school communication channels e.g. e-newsletters, websites, parent portals etc.
