The start of the school year has a way of surfacing every form a school or childcare centre needs, and immunisation records are often near the top of that pile. If you have realised your child is behind on their vaccination schedule, or you are not entirely sure where things stand, January is a good time to sort it out before the year gets busy.
This article covers how children’s immunisations Camberwell families need work, what catch-up vaccination actually involves, and where to start if you have lost track.
Why January Is Catch-Up Season
Between enrolment requirements, immunisation history statements schools ask for, and the general reset that comes with a new year, January and early February are when a lot of parents discover a gap in their child’s vaccination record. It might be a missed appointment during a busy period, a move interstate or overseas, or simply losing track of which doses were given when.
Whatever the reason, catching up is very manageable, and it is far more common than parents expect.
Understanding the National Immunisation Program
Australia’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) sets out a schedule of vaccinations recommended at specific ages, from birth through to adolescence, protecting against diseases including measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B and several others depending on age.
Eligible vaccines on the schedule are provided free under the NIP, though catch-up requirements can vary depending on your child’s age and vaccination history.
What “Catching Up” Actually Involves
If your child has missed one or more scheduled vaccinations, catch-up generally does not mean starting the entire schedule again. Instead, your GP works out which specific doses are missing and puts together a catch-up plan tailored to your child’s age and vaccination history.
Steps usually look like this:
1. Bring what records you have. This might be a physical immunisation booklet, records from your previous GP or an immunisation history statement from Medicare via your Medicare online account or the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
2. Book a review appointment. Your GP will go through the record with you, identify any gaps, and explain what catch-up doses are needed and roughly when.
3. Work through the catch-up schedule. Depending on how many doses are missing, this might be completed in one visit or spread across a few appointments, following recommended intervals between certain vaccines.
4. Update the Australian Immunisation Register. Once doses are given, they are recorded on the AIR, which is what schools and childcare centres check for enrolment and immunisation requirements.
If You Cannot Find the Records
This is more common than you might think, especially after a move or a change of GP. If you cannot locate your child’s immunisation history, you have a couple of options:
- Check your Medicare online account or the Medicare Express Plus app, which usually shows an immunisation history statement
- Ask your previous GP clinic for copies of past records
- Speak with your GP, who can request an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register on your behalf
Why School and Childcare Requirements Matter
Many childcare centres and schools require an up-to-date immunisation history statement as part of enrolment, and some government payments, including family assistance payments, are linked to a child’s immunisation status under the “No Jab, No Pay” policy. Getting ahead of any gaps well before enrolment deadlines avoids unnecessary stress in the lead-up to the school year.
Common Questions Parents Ask
Is it too late to catch up if my child has missed several doses? No. Catch-up schedules exist specifically for this situation, and your GP can put together a plan regardless of how much time has passed.
Will my child need to repeat vaccines they have already had? Generally no. Catch-up plans are based on what your child has already received, not a restart from scratch.
Can catch-up vaccinations be done during a normal appointment? Yes, though depending on how many doses are needed, your GP may recommend spacing some out across more than one visit.
Is there a cost? Vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program schedule are generally provided at no cost when given by a bulk billing provider, though this can depend on your child’s specific catch-up requirements. It is worth confirming details with your GP at the time of booking.
Booking a Catch-Up Appointment at Camberwell Health
Camberwell Health provides children’s immunisations, including catch-up vaccination planning, as part of our general practice services. If you are unsure where your child stands, bring whatever records you have and we will help you work out the rest.
Book online via HotDoc, call us on (03) 9882 0055, or visit us at 676 Burke Road, Camberwell. We bulk bill eligible Medicare patients.
This article is general information only. Please speak with your GP about your child’s individual immunisation needs and catch-up schedule.
Author bio: Dr Aftab Aslam is a general practitioner at Camberwell Health (MBBS FRACGP). View his doctor profile for more information or to book an appointment.