NSW Health School Vaccination Program: A guide for schools

On this page

1. About the NSW Health School Vaccination Program
2. Preparing for the vaccination clinic at your school
3. Parental and carer consent
4. During the vaccination clinic
5. Students who missed the vaccination clinic
6. Resources
   

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About the NSW Health School Vaccination Program (SVP)

​NSW Health works in partnership with schools to offer the vaccines recommended and funded for adolescents by the National Immunisation Program in a school-based vaccination program. 

Year 7 vaccines

• ​​A member of the public health unit (PHU) or community health centre (CHC) vaccination team will contact you to arrange suitable dates for the SVP to take place in your school. Please be aware the vaccination team will be visiting many schools and will need your assistance to set firm dates for clinics.
• Please nominate a staff member as the primary contact for the vaccination team and provide the contact details for this person to the vaccination team. The vaccination team will then liaise with this staff member about conducting the program including organising dates, what time is required to vaccinate the students (particularly large numbers), distribution of digital consent information or paper-based consent materials, and requirements and procedures for vaccination sessions.
• Ongoing communication between your school’s primary contact and the vaccination team is important to minimise disruption to the school and to streamline the vaccination sessions.
• If you require extra paper consent kits, please notify your local PHU/CHC school immunisation team by calling 1300 066 055.
• Read the During the vaccination clinic section so you can arrange relevant equipment and know what to expect on the day.
• Review the suggested checklist for planning of a vaccination clinic at your school (Appendix A).

Scheduling the vaccination clinic dates

• Arrange vaccination times so that they are not scheduled on days with excursions or sport events or exam sessions.
• When the dates for the vaccination clinic have been scheduled, please advise all relevant staff and schedule the dates into the school community calendar.
• If the date is changed, relevant staff and the school community calendar should be updated.
• If the clinic date changes, inform parents, legal guardians or authorised persons as soon as possible. ​
  

Communicating the vaccination clinic dates

• ​​Please inform the appropriate class teachers of the time, date and place of the vaccination clinic.
• Include an article in your school newsletter and an email to parents/carers of Year 7 and Year 10 students outlining the vaccination clinic date and details, and instructions about how to give consent (sample article included – see Appendix B).
• Breakfast - discuss with the students prior to the clinic and promote in the newsletter the importance of having breakfast on vaccination day to help avoid students fainting. Students will be asked questions by the nurses and may be asked to have some sustenance before their vaccination will be given.
• Students are encouraged to drink plenty of (non-caffeinated) fluids, especially in hot weather.
  

Communicating vaccination information to parents and carers

​​Distribute the parent information as soon as it is received and as early as possible. This will allow parents time to digest the information and return the consent forms. Please ensure that any special education students also receive the information kits. Example timeline:

Commencement of the term

• ​​Use the “Sample School Newsletter Draft Template” (Appendix B) to send information to parents. Both an email and a newsletter update to parents/carers of Year 7 and Year 10 students is recommended. 
• To complete the online consent, parents/carers will need to visit the School Vaccination Program online consent portal ​​​​​.
  
• For detailed steps on how to provide consent, please refer parents to the NSW Health web page How to provide consent.
  
• Social media tiles for use in school communication resources are available (Appendix E).

Four weeks before the clinic

• ​Send a repeat reminder for parents/carers to complete online consent by visiting the School Vaccination Program online consent portal)​​​​ ​​
  

Two weeks before the clinic

• ​Distribute the paper-based "School Vaccination Flyer" to parents/carers. Printed copies will have been provided by the PHU. A digital copy is available in Appendix C for email and local printing.
  

One week before the clinic

• ​​Send a repeat reminder for parents/carers to complete online consnet, by visiting the School Vaccination Program online consen portal)​​​​
  
• Distribute the paper-based “School vaccination ​information for students” flyer. This will help inform students about what to eat, wear and expect on vaccination day. A digital copy is available in Appendix D for email and local printing.
  

Parental and carer consent

​To complete online consent parents/carers need to visit the School Vaccination Program online consent portal​​. 

​For detailed steps on how to provide consent please refer to the NSW Health webpage How to Provide Consent​​​.

​​For online consent parents/carers will need:

• their ServiceNSW log-in details, or to create an account with ServiceNSW​​​ if they don’t already have one 
• Medicare details for parents/carers and their child.
  

Benefits of online consent for parents/carers: 

• SMS notification three days before the clinic to remind parents of the vaccination day
• SMS notifications on the day when vaccinations are given 
• easy updating of their child’s details online 
• faster upload of their child’s vaccination ​records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Consent resources

School Vaccination Program video

Parents, students and schools can watch a video ​​​to learn more about the NSW School Vaccination Program.

Consent packs​

Hard copy Parent Information Consent Packs  – which includes the Year 7 and Year 10 NSW School Vaccination Program: Important information 2025 – are available and can be given to:

• students where parents/carers cannot or prefer not to provide online consent
• parents/carers or students who do not have a Medicare card or internet access.

Note: School staff will still need to collect signed printed consent forms and return them to the school vaccination team.

​​Parents from non-English speaking backgrounds can access resources translated in 27 languages.

​Online consent portal

To complete online consent for school vaccinations parents can visit the School Vaccination Program online consent portal​​​. 

A step-by-step guide on how to provide consent is avialble for parents on the NSW Health website.

​​Translated guides are available in Arabic  العربية​,Korean 한국어​ , Simplified Chinese 简体中文​, Traditional Chinese 繁體中文​ , Vietnamese ​Tiếng Việt​​.

Parent and carer online consent platform​

​When parents and carers first log into the online consent platform​​ it should look like the images below:

From the NSW Health link, select ServiceNSW Account. The ServiceNSW login page will display.

NOTE: If parents do not have a Service NSW account, they can visit MyServiceNSW to register​​​.

On the login web page, parents will need to tyope their ServiceNSW account details:

• a - Enter your Email
• b - Enter your Password
  
• c - Select Continue​​​

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Consent forms

• ​​Paper consent forms that are provided late (the week of the clinic), should be kept until the day of the school immunisation clinic and given to the vaccination team.
• Parental consent is required for students to receive routine vaccinations at school. Consent can be provided at any time during the school year and on the day of the clinic by phone. Schools are requested to bring all students from the year cohort down to the clinic in stages.
• Authorised nurse immunisers may obtain verbal phone consent from the parent if a student indicates that their parent would like them to be vaccinated. Alternatively, the nurse may give the student a paper-based consent form for parents to complete and return. The completed consent form will be kept until the date of the next school vaccination clinic.
  

Withdrawing consent

• ​​Parents can withdraw consent before the vaccination clinic.
• Parents who provide consent online can log-in to the secure NSW Health portal and follow the prompts to withdraw consent.
• Parents who provide consent on a hard copy consent form and parents who wish to withdraw consent within 24 hours of a clinic, will need to contact the school directly. Parents will need to write to or call the school to advise the student's name, school grade and those vaccines the withdrawn consent applies to.
• Schools are recommended to use the “Proforma for schools to provide written notification to the Director, Public Health Unit, of any withdrawals of consent from NSW School Vaccination Program” (Appendix F).

During the vaccination clinic

​​General preparations

• The vaccination team will report to the front office/reception for sign-in at a pre-arranged time to set up and conduct the clinic in your school (usually between 08:30 and 09:00 am). The team will bring all clinical supplies and consumables required to vaccinate students and will take all items with them when they leave.
• ​The vaccination team will need:
  
• ​​a well-lit and ventilated room (one large room, larger than a classroom with separate entry and exit, preferably on the ground floor so students are not required to walk up or down stairs to return to the classroom). It is the responsibility of the school to provide an appropriate room
• screens or some other method to assist with ensuring privacy 
• 2 mats, such as gym mats for students who may feel faint and need to lie down 
• a desk and 2 chairs for each workstation (one chair for the nurse and one chair for the student). A member of the school vaccination team will contact your school in advance to advise on the number of workstations
• an ‘emergency’ area separated from the ‘recovery’ area which is easily accessible and relatively private (for example,​ First Aid room or sick bay)
• hand washing facilities close by.​

​Helping the vaccination team

​​To ensure everything runs smoothly, the vaccination team will need:

• staff to bring students to the vaccinating area
• to reduce anxiety, minimise queuing by bringing one class at a time 
• if schools are aware of particularly anxious students, liaise with the Team Leader to vaccinate these students before the main clinic session starts
• distractions such as music, movies or books can help relieve student anxiety pre and post vaccination
• staff member/s to supervise the students in the recovery area on the day. Students need to remain seated in the recovery area for 15 minutes after their vaccination. This staff member does not need any special training
• the recovery area should be close to the clinic so that the vaccination team can easily and quickly respond
• the exit route from the recovery area should be located away from the waiting area where others may still be queuing for their vaccination.
  

Taking care of students in the recovery area

• Students will be asked to sit in the ‘recovery’ area for a minimum of 15 minutes following vaccination.
  
• ​Once the observation period is over, students may return to their scheduled activities. Ideally, a staff member should accompany students away from the clinic area.
  

If students feel unwell after vaccination

• If a student feels faint or nauseous, lay them down flat in a cool area, give them a drink of cold water and advise the vaccination team.
  
• If a student is experiencing some discomfort at the site of the injection, apply a cold cloth or ice pack to the injection site.
  
• If necessary, seek medical attention (as per your routine school procedures) or call the NSW Ambulance Service by dialling 000 and then contact the parent or legal guardian.
  

After the vaccination clinic

The vaccination team are specially trained to deal with all emergencies. The vaccination team will remain at your school for at least 15 minutes after the last student has been vaccinated and will ensure all vaccinated students have not experienced an adverse event following immunisation prior to departing. A contact phone number for the vaccination team will be left with the school.​​

Students who missed the vaccination clinic

​Parents of students who have completed consent but missed vaccination throughout the year will be sent a notification. The notification will advise parents their child was not vaccinated.

Every effort will be made to vaccinate students who have completed consent but missed vaccination throughout the year at subsequent school clinics. Where this is possible, parents will be advised of arrangements for catch-up vaccinations.

Where PHU/CHC school immunisation teams have capacity, catch up clinics will be conducted in Year 8 and Year 11 for all the consents submitted the year before. Alternatively, free catch-up vaccines are available through local general practitioners (GPs), pharmacist immunisers and Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS). Please note the GP may charge a consultation fee.

Resources

Appendix A: Suggested checklist​

​This is an example of a checklist​, please discuss with your local PHU/CHC SVP coordinator.

Appendix B: Sample school newsletter schools to send to parents

In 2025 the following vaccines will be offered: 

• ​In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough), (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). 
• In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. 

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received. 

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10, you can give consent online for their routine school vaccinations.

How to provide consent

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit the School Vaccination Program online consent portal (https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage​) 
   
2. For detailed steps on how to provide consent, please refer to the NSW Health webpage How to Provide Consent (https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/online-consent-school-vaccination.aspx). 
3. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/services/myservicensw-account/how-to-create-an-account​​​ to create one. 
4. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required. 
   
5. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
1. ​Enter your child’s personal details 
2. Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child 
3. Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement. Translations are available in 28 languages please refer to the NSW Health webpage https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx 
4. Provide consent. 

• SMS notification three days before the clinic to remind you of the vaccination day 
• easily update your child’s details
• receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given 
• faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). ​
  

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination. If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx​

Appendix C: School vaccination flyer - copy for distribution to parents

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​Appendix D: School vaccination letter - information for students

 

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​Appendix E: Social media tiles for use in school communication

 

Appendix F: Proforma for schools to provide written notification to the Director, Public Health Unit, of any withdrawals of consent from NSW School Vaccination Program

​[Insert school crest and details]​​

Dear <name of the Director of the Public Health Unit or delegate>,

<Name of school> has received a withdrawal of consent from a parent/guardian for the school vaccination program.

The withdrawal of consent was received on <date> for <student name> in <year group>. 

Consent is withdrawn for the <name of vaccine>.

Yours sincerely,

<Name of Principal>

<Signature of Principal>

<Date>

​Appendix G: Useful links

NSW Health School Vaccination Program

Up-to-date immunisation information, resources, and advice about the NSW Health School Vaccination Program.

Public Health Units - contact details

In NSW calling 1300 066 055 will direct you to your local Public Health Unit who can help answer your questions about the school vaccination program. And find the Public Health Unit​​​​ in your area.

Students with disability

• Information for students with physical and/or intellectual disabilities​ in the NSW School Vaccination Program. 
• A social story to help plan vaccination day at school.​​​
• A fact sheet to provide a brief overview of HPV​​, the HPV vaccine and how to support adolescents with their HPV vaccination.

Australian Immunisation Handbook

​​A comprehensive guide​​​ developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) providing clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.

Australian Immunisation Register

The national register where vaccinations are recorded.​​

NSW Immunisation Schedule

The schedule for vaccines​ funded under the National Immunisation Program.​

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