NSW Health offers the vaccines recommended for adolescents by the National Health and Medical Research Council in a school vaccination program. Signed parental/guardian consent must be provided.
Hepatitis B is a viral disease that causes symptoms such as fever, jaundice and feeling generally unwell and can lead to cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. Some people can develop hepatitis B disease and not be aware that they are infected. These people can pass on the disease without knowing it.
Hepatitis B is spread:
Vaccines work by triggering the immune system to fight certain infections. If a vaccinated person comes into contact with these infections, their immune system is able to respond more effectively, preventing the disease developing or greatly reducing its severity.
Hepatitis B vaccine is very effective in providing protection against hepatitis B infection.
In Intensive English Centres, hepatitis B vaccine will be given in a 2-dose course with the second dose given 4-6 months after the first.
No. Adolescents (aged 11 – 15 years of age) require 2 adult doses of vaccine to be protected against hepatitis B disease.
All students aged 11 - 15 years of age should receive 2 adult doses of hepatitis B vaccine unless they have already received a course of the vaccine as a baby/child.
Students aged 16 years and over should receive 3 paediatric doses of vaccine. The first 2 doses may be given at the school and then a letter will be provided to take to their GP for completion of the course.
Hepatitis B vaccine should not be given to people who:
Vaccines used in Australia are safe and must pass strict safety testing before being approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). In addition, the TGA monitors the safety of vaccines once they are in use.
The vaccine contains aluminium hydroxide to assist the vaccine to work, may contain yeast proteins and was exposed to bovine-derived materials during manufacture.
Side effects are commonly mild and usually involve redness, pain and swelling at the injection site or fever. Serious side effects are extremely rare. More information about side effects is available in the Consumer Medical Information (CMI) for the vaccine available from NSW School Vaccination Program. Parents concerned about side effects after vaccination should contact their GP who should also make a report to the local public health unit.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that may result in unconsciousness and death if not treated quickly.
It occurs very rarely after any vaccination. The school immunisation nurses are fully trained in the treatment of anaphylaxis.
It is safe for your child to receive another course of hepatitis B vaccine.
No. Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b infection only and is given to babies at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months of age. It will not protect your child against hepatitis B.
No. Any female student who is or thinks she may be pregnant should not be vaccinated. On the day of the clinic the vaccination nurse will ask female students if they are or could be pregnant. If a student answers yes to this question, she will not be vaccinated. The student will be urged to immediately discuss the issue with her parent/guardian and to seek medical help. She will also be provided with contact details for a health referral service that will provide advice, support and guidance.
Hepatitis B vaccine can be safely administered to someone who has asthma regardless of which medications they are taking.
Only parents/guardians can consent to vaccination for students less than 18 years of age. Students aged 18 years and over may consent to their own vaccination and should complete and sign the Consent Form where ‘Parent/Guardian’ is indicated. Consent can be withdrawn at any time by providing the school with written notification of the withdrawal of consent or telephoning the school to withdraw consent.
You should contact your local doctor and make arrangements for your child to be vaccinated.
Information about your child’s vaccinations will be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) so it can be linked to your child’s existing immunisation history.
Parents can request a copy of their child’s AIR Immunisation History Statement at any time up to their child being 14 years of age, and students aged 14 years and over can request their own immunisation history statement:
The information you provide on the Consent Form is subject to strict confidentiality and privacy protections contained in NSW and Commonwealth legislation (see the enclosed Privacy Statement). The information will be entered into a NSW Health immunisation register and then uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) so it can be linked to your child’s existing immunisation history and viewed on MyGov.
More information is available: