School entry immunisation certificates

Children need a certificate before they start primary school that shows whether or not they have been vaccinated against a range of diseases. This is a legal requirement for primary school enrolment. There are two certificates that can be used. You can use one provided by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) or one issued by your local council.

Diseases included on the certificate
Measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type b and polio are life threatening diseases that children can catch and spread. Immunisation will protect children from these diseases. Your local government immunisation provider or your doctor can immunise your child.

Your child’s immunisation record
School entry immunisation certificates contain the status of your child’s immunisation record, whether complete or incomplete. The certificate shows if your child has been immunised against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and polio.

It is a legal requirement to provide a school entry immunisation certificate when you enrol your child in primary school in Victoria.

Essential information for schools
The school principal and health authorities need to know whether or not your child has been immunised. This information will help health authorities to protect children if there is an outbreak of a contagious disease at the school, for which children can be vaccinated. Children who have not been vaccinated may be excluded from the school in the event of an outbreak.

Obtaining a certificate from the ACIR
You will automatically receive a history statement from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) after your child has completed the four-year-old vaccine schedule and has received all the childhood immunisations required.

At the bottom of the page, the history statement should say: ‘This child has received all vaccines required by five years of age’. If it does, this history statement becomes a valid school entry immunisation certificate.

If your child has completed all immunisations but you have not received a history statement, or if you have lost your child’s history statement, call ACIR on 1800 653 809.

Make sure that ACIR has your current address details so that you receive your child’s certificate. If you are moving, or have recently moved, contact them to update your contact details.

Immunisation status certificate
If your child’s immunisation records are incomplete, missing, or your child has never been vaccinated, you must contact your local council’s immunisation service. They will provide you with an Immunisation Status Certificate. They will also be able to help you if you have moved from overseas.

Give the certificate to your school
When you enrol your child in school, you will need to give the staff your certificate.

Where to get help

• The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) Tel. 1800 653 809
• Your local council
• Immunisation Program - Department of Health Victoria, Tel. 1300 882 008.
• National Immunisation Infoline Tel. 1800 671 811

• All children need a school entry immunisation certificate before they start school to show whether or not they have been vaccinated.
• The certificate is issued by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) or you can contact your local council.

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