The Importance of Child Vaccinations

Are your child’s vaccinations up to date?

Stepping into a new year is the perfect time to review and update your child’s immunisation schedule. Not only do immunisations allow protection against the most serious childhood infections, but vaccinating your child ensures you and your family are eligible for Family Tax Benefit payments and childcare subsidies.

Why Should I Vaccinate My Child?

There are many reasons to vaccinate your child, the most important of which are the health benefits.

• Disease Prevention: Childhood vaccinations prevent children from contracting serious diseases such as meningitis, mumps, whooping cough, polio, and measles. 
• Protection Against Complications: Routine childhood immunisations also prevent children from suffering medical risk conditions, such as pneumonia or encephalitis from measles complications, or respiratory failure from whooping cough. 
• Community Protection: Following the routine childhood immunisations recommended by the Australian government helps to give your child the best chance to thrive in daily life and promote healthy development. It also helps to build immunity, which protects infants or individuals with medical conditions who are unable to be vaccinated. 

Australia’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free vaccinations for children aged below 19. The schedule provides recommended doses throughout a child’s life against vaccine-preventable diseases to ensure their protection as they grow up and make their way in the world. 

These include: 

• 2 months (can be given from 6 weeks)
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 4 years

From the age of 4, free vaccinations are performed through school programs. In cases where children have missed any of these scheduled vaccinations, free catch-up programs are also available to ensure your child’s immunisations are kept up to date. Immunisation records are tracked across Australia via the Australian Immunisation Register, which your local healthcare provider can update.

Family Tax Benefits and Childcare Subsidies

Keeping your child’s immunisations up to date is essential for families who require financial assistance. To meet the Australian government’s immunisation requirements, children must be up to date with their recommended vaccinations, follow an approved catch-up schedule, or have an approved exemption. A child must be vaccinated as per the NIP recommendations in order for families to receive subsidies such as Family Tax Benefits (FTB) Part A and Child Care Subsidy (CCS). These subsidies offer crucial support for families who require assistance with childcare costs and other expenses, so it’s important to remain compliant with immunisation schedules. 

No Jab, No Pay

Many Australian states and territories operate on a ‘No Jab, No Pay’ policy for early childhood services. These policies focus on creating safe learning and care environments, requiring children to be fully vaccinated to minimise the risk of outbreak in group settings. 

You can view the summary of each state and territory's requirements here. 

Ensuring your child is vaccinated is more than a personal choice. Vaccinating children helps protect the wider community and create a safer future for all generations to come by eradicating preventable diseases. To keep your child’s immunisations up to date, book an appointment with your GP and we will provide all necessary vaccinations to help maintain your child’s health and safety.