Media Release

Australian Government – Keeping the bugs at bay with childhood immunisation

14 February 2007

Australian parents are being urged to keep track of their child’s immunisation history as the 2007 school year begins with the help of Medicare Australia.

The Minister for Human Services, Senator Ian Campbell, today encouraged parents to make sure their children were up-to-date with vaccinations to protect them against harmful diseases, particularly when they start school.

“When children reach school age they start interacting with more people, putting them at greater risk of coming into contact with diseases,” Senator Campbell said.

“It is important parents make sure their children are immunised from birth through to four years of age and keep their vaccinations up-to-date once they start school.

“By following the recommended immunisation program, children are vaccinated against diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and polio.”

For many parents, tracking their child’s immunisation can seem a difficult task. The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, administered by Medicare Australia, provides a national database of vaccinations given to children under the age of seven and living in Australia.

Senator Campbell said the Immunisation Register had proved invaluable in raising national awareness about the importance of vaccination.

The Immunisation Register also helps families by making it easy for parents to monitor their child’s immunisation history.

“Since the Immunisation Register was introduced 10 years ago, the number of children in Australia recorded as fully immunised has nearly doubled,” Senator Campbell said.

“Around 90 per cent of children were registered as fully immunised in 2006 compared with 50 per cent in 1996.

“More than 1.8 million Australian children are recorded on the Immunisation Register.”

Senator Campbell said Medicare Australia could also help parents with providing the proof of their child’s immunisation when they enroll their child at school.

“Parents can easily request their child’s immunisation history statement through a variety of channels including online, in a Medicare office and over the phone,” Senator Campbell said.

“Medicare Australia provides more than 1 million immunisation history statements to Australian families every year.”

More information on the Immunisation Register can be found at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au or by calling 1800 653 809. To access an online immunisation history statement, parents need to register for Medicare Australia’s online services. Media contact: Rhiannon Keen on 02 6277 7200