Golden Plains Shire Council provides immunisation services to pre-school children using experienced staff from the Barwon Health Immunisation Service. Clinics are held at Meredith, Bannockburn and Smythesdale.
"Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them. Immunisation not only protects individuals, but also others in the community, by reducing the spread of preventable diseases" Department of Health and Aged Care
Golden Plains Immunisation Program
Clinics are currently held at the Meredith Community Hub, 'The Well', Smythesdale and the Bannockburn Family Services Centre as per the attached schedule. Sessions are no longer operated as a 'drop in' service and appointments must be booked in advance.
When attending the clinic please ensure you bring your Medicare Card and your child's Health Record Book. There will be a fifteen (15) minute wait after all vaccinations. Detailed information on the vaccines given is available on the Department of Health Immunisation Program webpage.
It is strongly recommended that before any immunisation takes place, you read the Department of Health Pre-Immunisation Checklist and the Department of Health Vaccine Side Effects and talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
For the current immunisation schedule for Victoria, please visit the Department of Health Immunisation Program webpage.
No Jab No Play Legislation - Early Childhood Services
Under the 'No Jab, No Play' legislation, before enrolling a child, early childhood services must obtain evidence* that the child is: Fully immunised for their age OR on a vaccination catch-up program OR unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons. For more information or to help answer your questions regarding this legislation please visit the Department of Health's No Jab, No Play - frequently asked questions webpage.
*An Immunisation History Statement from the AIR is the only recognised form of evidence for the purpose of enrolling a child in an early childhood service.
Primary School Immunisation requirements
By law, a child must have an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) to enrol in primary school.
Children starting school are exposed to a large number of people and a range of potentially dangerous diseases. Immunisation is a proven and safe way to protect children against diseases that cause serious illness and sometimes death.
Enrolling in primary school is a good time to check that a child’s vaccinations are up to date.
Immunisation History Statements
An Immunisation History Statement from the AIR (Australian Immunisation Register) is a statement which keeps track of the immunisations an individual has received, any due/overdue immunisations, any recorded medical exemptions and information on active catch-up schedules.
Immunisation History Statements can be obtained by either:
- accessing your Medicare online account through myGov;
- the Medicare mobile app or
- call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm)*
*Immunisation History Statements requested via contacting the AIR may take up to 14 days to arrive.