Frequently asked questions
School Immunisation Program - answers to questions parents frequently ask about vaccinations their children can have at school
School Immunisation Program
Immunisation delivery is an essential service and should continue under the COVID-19 pandemic. See the Maintaining immunisation services during COVID-19 fact sheet (PDF 164KB) for further information.
Protection produced by some vaccines will decline over time and booster doses may be needed to ensure high levels of protection are maintained (for example diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus). A booster dose given in high school will provide protection over a longer period of time. Vaccines such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine are more effective if delivered at a specific age. Meningococcal vaccines are also recommended for students in senior high school years, due to their increased risk of meningococcal disease.
Vaccines delivered through the school program are made available at no cost under the National Immunisation Program. Fully trained and qualified vaccination teams visit all high schools in South Australia to deliver the program.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive free vaccines under the School Immunisation Program, your child must be enrolled in Years 8 or 10. Home-schooled and correspondence school students are also eligible to receive the recommended vaccines free.
Vaccines for 2021
Year 8
Year 10
- meningococcal B vaccine (State funded)
- meningococcal ACWY vaccine
Missed vaccines
Have you missed any of your School Immunisation Program vaccines? If you have and are under 20 years of age you can receive missed vaccines for free. See your immunisation provider or doctor for further information.
School Program Immunisation Records
Copies of school immunisation records from 1996 to now can be accessed from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). If these records are incomplete, contact the School Immunisation Program provider (PDF 514KB).
Data collection
The School Immunisation Program is committed to ensuring that all eligible students have been offered the recommended funded vaccines for adolescents.
SA Health is able to access data on the number of students that have been immunised, to measure the success of the statewide program annually.
Further information
For further information on the School Immunisation Program, see the School Immunisation Program: Frequently asked questions page or contact your doctor or immunisation provider.
