¨ It is very important to make sure your child is vaccinated in the free school program
¨ Read this information and discuss it with your child
¨ Read and complete the Vaccination Consent card making sure you sign and date your consent
to each vaccination
¨ Return the completed and signed Vaccination Consent card to your child’s school as soon as
you have completed it
¨ If you don’t want your child to be vaccinated through the school program, complete the ‘No to
Vaccination’ section on the consent card
¨ If you don’t return a consent card to your child’s school or the consent card is incomplete,
you may be contacted by the immunisation provider to check that you have been oered the
opportunity for your child to participate in the free program
¨ Aer the vaccination clinic, your child will receive a Record of Vaccination card. Keep this with
their other medical details and/or notify your doctor that the vaccine has been given. This
information will also be directly provided to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
¨ Keep this Information Sheet for future reference
The Queensland School Immunisation Program oers every Year 7 student in Queensland free
immunisation against human papillomavirus (HPV) and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
(whooping cough). Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) is a combined vaccine
(dTpa) and is given as one injection.
Signed parent/legal guardian/authorised person consent for the vaccine is required.
To make sure all Year 7 students are oered the opportunity to participate, the Public Health
Act 2005 authorises school principals to disclose student and parent information to the school
immunisation program provider so they can follow up with parents/legal guardians or authorised
persons of students who do not return a Vaccination Consent card.
Information SheetInformation Sheet
and
protect
prepare
Queensland School Queensland School
Immunisation ProgramImmunisation Program
What do I need to doWhat do I need to do
What if my child can’t be vaccinated at school or
misses the school clinic?
• Your child can attend a catch-up session if oered by the school
immunisation provider, OR
• You can take your child to your doctor or other vaccine provider.
If you decide to take your child to your doctor, the vaccine will be
free, however a doctor’s consultation fee may apply. When you call
to make an appointment you should advise the receptionist what
vaccinations are required so they can order the vaccine.
Will I receive a record of the vaccinations?
Yes. Your child will be given a Record of Vaccination card. Advise
your doctor that the vaccination has been given the next time you
visit. Please keep this card in a safe place for future reference.
This information will also be directly provided to the Australian
Immunisation Register (AIR).
What should I do if a reaction occurs aer vaccination?
1. If your child complains of tenderness at the injection site, put a
cold damp cloth on the area to relieve the pain.
2. Only give paracetamol (as per directions) if pain and fever are
present.
3. If your child has an unexpected reaction that you are concerned
about please contact your doctor or seek medical attention.
Will my child’s vaccination details be kept private?
The Information Privacy Act 2009 sets out the rules for collection
and handling of personal information contained in the School
Immunisation Program vaccination consent card.
As part of participation in the School Immunisation Program,
Queensland Health collects details such as the student’s name,
contact information, Medicare number and relevant health
information. Contact details for the parent/legal guardian or
authorised person of the student are also collected.
This information is needed to correctly deliver vaccinations and to
record vaccination details on the Australian Immunisation Register
(AIR). This information may be used by Queensland Health for
recall, reminders, clinical follow up or disease prevention, control
and monitoring.
Your information will not be accessed by or given to any other
person or organisation without your permission unless permitted or
required by law.
For information about how Queensland Health protects your
personal information, or to learn about your right to access your
own personal information, please see our website at https://www.
health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/records-privacy/health-
personal
Where can I get more information?
¨ Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
¨ Contact your doctor
¨ Visit Queensland Health’s Immunisation website:
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/
immunisation/adolescents
¨ Visit the Australian Immunisation website:
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation
What vaccinations are being oered?
The School Immunisation Program oers every Year 7 student in
Queensland free immunisation against human papillomavirus
(HPV) and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) is a combined
vaccine (dTpa) and is given as one injection.
Do I need to sign the consent card for my child to be
vaccinated?
YES. A completed consent card signed by a parent/legal guardian/
authorised person MUST be returned to school for a child to be
vaccinated. Aer both the student and parent/legal guardian
or authorised person have read this information sheet, please
complete the consent card, sign ‘Yes’ to vaccination in the consent
section and return the card to school.
What if I don’t want my child to be vaccinated through
the School Immunisation Program?
If you don’t want your child to be vaccinated through the school
program, complete and sign the ‘No to Vaccination’ section of the
consent card, indicate why your child is not receiving vaccinations
through the school program and return the consent card to the
school.
What happens if I don’t return the consent card?
Your child will not be vaccinated without a completed and signed
consent card.
If you don’t sign and return the consent card, you may be contacted
by your school’s immunisation provider to check that you have
been oered the opportunity for your child to participate in the free
program. The Public Health Act 2005 authorises the school principal
to provide your contact details to the school immunisation provider
so they can follow up with the parent/legal guardian or authorised
person of students who don’t return a consent card.
Can I withdraw my consent?
Yes. Contact your school’s immunisation provider in writing if you
would like to withdraw consent at any stage, including if your child’s
health status changes signicantly, or if you are no longer the legal
guardian. Please call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to obtain the contact
details for this provider.
What should my child do on the day of vaccination?
On the day of vaccination, your child should have an adequate
breakfast. Please remind your child to bring the Record of
Vaccination card home to you for your records.
Please note:
The Child Protection Act 1999 (Section 97) authorises
delegated ocers to make immunisation arrangements for
children and young people in the custody or guardianship
of Child Safety Services. Additionally, carers of children
and young people under the guardianship of Child
Safety Services are authorised to make immunisation
arrangements for children and young people in out of home
care.
A copy of their Authority to Care form must be provided
with the consent to vaccination. Please see the Child Safety
Practice Manual for further information at www.csyw.qld.
gov.au/childsafety/child-safety-practice-manual
Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
NB: vaccine given as one dose
About HPV is a very common virus that aects both females and males. There are more than 100 types of HPV.
Certain types of HPV cause common warts on the hands and feet and other types cause genital warts and
cancers.
There are about 40 types of HPV that aect the genital area. Up to 80% of males and females who have
had any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact will be infected with at least one type of genital
HPV at some time.
The HPV vaccine oers protection against more than 90% of HPV strains and is most eective when given
in early adolescence well before a person becomes sexually active and possibly exposed to HPV.
How is it spread? HPV can live both inside and outside the genital area and sometimes the mouth or throat. It is spread
through direct skin to skin contact with a person who has HPV and can occur without any symptoms or
visible signs. There is currently no treatment for HPV. In most people, the virus is cleared naturally in one
to two years. In rare cases, HPV may persist and cause cell changes that lead to cancer.
Symptoms Most genital HPV infections do not cause any symptoms and people usually do not know they have the
infection. Some types of HPV can cause visible genital warts and other types of HPV can be detected in
females by a Cervical Screening Test.
Complications HPV can cause genital warts, cervical, vulval, vaginal, penile and anal cancers, and is also associated with
some cancers of the mouth and throat.
Vaccination can prevent
disease
Since the National HPV Vaccination Program began in 2007, there has been a 90% reduction in genital
warts in young people as well as a decrease in high grade cervical abnormalities.
The HPV vaccine provided in the school program is called Gardasil
®
9
. It protects against nine types of
HPV – seven that can cause cancer and two that cause warts. The vaccine works by causing the body to
make antibodies that ght HPV. If an immunised person comes into contact with HPV, the antibodies in
their blood will ght the virus and protect them against being infected. It usually takes several weeks aer
vaccination to develop protection against HPV.
The vaccine cannot cause HPV infection or cancer. Immunising your child on time against HPV helps protect
them from a range of cancers.
Immunocompromised
individuals
Immunocompromised children (with major medical conditions listed below) require three doses of
Gardasil
®
9
given at 0, 2 and 6 months to attain adequate protection and may not be able to be vaccinated
in the School Immunisation Program. Please consult your doctor to discuss HPV vaccination for your
child.
• Primary or secondary immunodeciencies (B lymphocyte antibody and T lymphocyte complete or
partial deciencies); HIV infection; malignancy; organ transplantation; autoimmune disease; or
signicant immunosuppressive therapy (excluding asplenia or hyposplenia).
Is the vaccine safe? Yes. Worldwide, extensive clinical trial and post marketing safety surveillance data indicate that HPV
vaccines are well tolerated and safe. HPV vaccines have been oered since 2007 and are considered to be
extremely safe. Talk to your doctor or 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) if you have any concerns.
What does it contain? The HPV vaccine contains virus-like particles. It also contains additives in very small amounts to either
assist the vaccine to work or act as a preservative.
Are there any side eects? Like all medications, vaccines may have side eects but compared to the risk of disease, most side eects
are minor, last a short time and do not lead to any long-term problems.
Common side eects that may occur include pain, redness and swelling at the injection site; low grade
fever; feeling unwell; headache; and fainting.
Serious side eects such as severe allergic reaction are extremely rare.
Where can I get more
information about HPV
vaccine?
Visit the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance: HPV information and fact sheet at:
www.ncirs.org.au/public/ncirs-position-statement-hpv-vaccination
or go to the Queensland Health website
http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/14/217/80/Human-Papilloma-Virus-HPV
Human Papillomavirus Human Papillomavirus
((
HPVHPV
))
NB: vaccine given as one combined dose
Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (whooping cough)
About Diphtheria is caused by
bacteria that can infect
the mouth, throat and
nose, and skin wounds.
Tetanus is a serious
illness caused when
wounds are infected
by bacteria present in
soil.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious
respiratory disease. It can aect people of any age. In
adolescents and adults, the infection may only cause a
persistent cough. However, for babies and young children,
whooping cough can be life-threatening.
How is it spread? When an infected
person coughs or
sneezes or by contact
with skin sores or
objects contaminated
by an infected person.
Through a cut or
wound which becomes
contaminated by the
bacteria.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms Extremely sore
throat and breathing
diculties and can
lead to nerve paralysis
and heart failure.
Tetanus causes painful
muscle spasms,
convulsions and
lockjaw.
May include runny nose, sore watery red eyes and fever.
It then progresses to a severe cough that may last for
months where the person may gasp for air causing a
“whooping” sound and may have severe coughing spasms
followed by gagging and vomiting.
Complications About one in 15
people infected with
diphtheria will die.
About 3% of people
who develop tetanus
in Australia will die.
Complications of whooping cough in babies include
pneumonia, seizures and brain damage from prolonged
lack of oxygen. About 1 in 120 babies aged less than 6
months will die from complications of whooping cough.
Vaccination can
prevent disease
The safest and most eective way to prevent these diseases is through vaccination. A full course of vaccination
provides long lasting protection against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
Your child may have received vaccination against diphtheria; tetanus; and pertussis (whooping cough) as
a preschooler. The vaccine oered to adolescents is a booster dose to maintain eective immunity. Fully
vaccinated students will not require another booster for diphtheria and tetanus until they reach 50 years of age,
unless an injury places them at risk of tetanus. There is no herd immunity for tetanus.
How many doses? One dose of a combined diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (dTpa) vaccine is oered.
Is the vaccine
safe?
This vaccine is safe for adolescents and adults.
The incidence of fever is low and there may be some soreness around the injection site.
The benets of protection against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis gained from this vaccination are likely to
outweigh the risk of an adverse event.
What does it
contain?
The vaccine contains diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis toxoids. The vaccine also contains additives in very
small amounts to either assist the vaccine to work or to act as a preservative.
Are there any side
eects?
Like all medications, vaccines may have side eects but compared to the risk of disease, most side eects are
minor, last a short time and do not lead to any long-term problems.
Common side eects that may occur include redness and soreness at the
injection site; fever; nausea; headache; tiredness and/or aching muscles.
Serious side eects such as severe allergic reaction are extremely rare.
DiphtheriaDiphtheria tetanus tetanus and pertussis and pertussis
((
whooping coughwhooping cough
))
