Child immunisation

Vaccines keep you, your family, and the community safe from diseases. 

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About our immunisation and vaccination service

Immunisation is one of the most effective public health methods, it helps to prevent and protect our community from diseases. Hunter New England Population Health provides support and information to providers and the general community about immunisation.

We can help you with:

  • information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • information for health professionals
  • free immunisation clinics
  • information for school vaccinations.
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Understanding vaccinations

Get the facts - immunisation facts in 90 seconds

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Video transcript

Understanding vaccinations

If you’re a mum, dad, or caregiver of a child 5 years and under, it’s important to know the facts about immunisation.

Nearly 95% of Aussie 5 year olds are now fully vaccinated, but we need to do more to protect all our kids.

Some areas in our country have lower immunisation rates and this puts the whole community at risk, particularly newborn babies. This is called community immunity. When more children are vaccinated, it lowers the risk of serious diseases spreading in our communities. All childhood diseases we vaccinate against in Australia, like whooping cough and measles can cause serious illness, including death.

Vaccinations strengthen your child’s immune system. They work by making your child’s body produce an immune response, including antibodies whose job it is to fight disease. Vaccines are proven to be a safe and effective way of protecting your child against these diseases.

In Australia we thoroughly test all vaccines available to the public for safety and effectiveness and continually monitor them. Skipping or delaying vaccinations puts your child and those around you at risk of contracting serious diseases. That’s why it’s really important to immunise on time.

If you forget, speak to your doctor or child health nurse about catching up. So remember, immunisation protects all our kids. Immunisation saves lives.

Information for parents and communities 

Free immunisation clinics

A little girl receiving a vaccine

Immunisation protects the community against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Each vaccine plays an important role, so timely vaccination is the best way to protect your child. The immunisation schedule provides a summary of the vaccines that your child needs and the ages at which they should be given.

Immunisation schedule

The child immunisation schedule for NSW is at:

  • 6 weeks
  • 4 months
  • 6 months
  • 12 months
  • 18 months
  • 4 years.

Important information for parents

Please bring your child's Blue Book with personal details completed and Medicare card. 

We offer free immunisation at several facilities throughout the Hunter New England region.

Armidale Community Health
FacilityContactDetailsAppointment required
Armidale Community Health
Freda Mott Child and Family Health Centre
Corner of Barney and O'Dell Streets, Armidale NSW 2350		Phone: (02) 6776 9897
  • Thursday and Friday by appointment only.
  • Free drop-in clinic on Wednesdays: 9:30am and 12:00pm
  •  
Arrive no later than half an hour before closing time.
Belmont District Hospital
Facility  Contact  Details Appointment required
Belmont District Hospital
16 Croudace Bay Rd, Belmont NSW		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

Open on the 4th Thursday of each month, from 9am - 1pm

  • 23 January
  • 27 February
  • 27 March
  • 24 April
  • 22 May
  • 26 June
  • 24 July
  • 28 August
  • 25 September
  • 23 October
  • 27 November
  • No clinic in December
  •  
Parking is available for $4
Cessnock Community Health
Facility Contact DetailsAppiontment required 
Cessnock Community Health
Cessnock Hospital
View St, Cessnock, NSW 2325		Phone: (02) 4991 0438Clinics occur every 2 weeks on a Wednesday.
  •  
Charlestown Community Health Centre
LocationContact Details Appointment required 
Charlestown Square (Level 2 - near the secret garden play area)
Pearson St, Charlestown, NSW		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

2nd Thursday of each month, 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm

  • 9 January
  • 13 February
  • 13 March
  • 10 April
  • 8 May
  • 12 June
  • 10 July
  • 14 August
  • 11 September
  • 9 October
  • 13 November
  • 11 December
  •  
Edgeworth Child and Family Health Centre
LocationContactDetailsAppiontment required 
Child and Family Health Centre
5 Minmi Rd (next to library)		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

1st Wednesday of each month, 9am - 1pm

  • No clinic in January
  • 5 February
  • 5 March
  • 2 April
  • 7 May
  • 4 June
  • 2 July
  • 6 August
  • 3 September
  • 1 October
  • 5 November
  • 3 December
  •  
Forster Community Health Centre
FacilityContact DetailsAppointment required
Forster Community Health Centre
14 Breese Parade, Forster NSW		Phone: (02) 6539 6300

Call before each clinic to check the date and time.

Thursdays between 2 - 4pm. No clinics on Public Holidays.

  •  
Kurri Kurri Community Health Centre
FacilityContact DetailsAppointment required
Kurri Kurri Community Health Centre
Lang St (next to the hospital)
Kurri Kurri, NSW 2325		Phone: (02) 4936 3282

Call before each clinic to check date and time.

Clinics occur fortnightly on a Wednesday.

  •  
Gillieston Heights Community Hub
LocationContactDetailsAppointment required 
Gillieston Heights Community Hub 
25 Redwood Drive, Gillieston Heights.		Phone: (02) 4934 9700
  • The 1st Wednesday of each month excluding January - 1:30pm - 4:30pm
  • The 2nd Wednesday of each month - 9:30am - 12.00pm and 1:30pm - 4:30pm
  • Last Wednesday of each month excluding December - 9:30 am- 1:00 pm.
  •  
East Maitland Child and Family Health Clinic
LocationContactDetailsAppointment required 
58 Stronach Avenue, East Maitland, NSW 2323Phone: (02) 4939 2530  
Morisset Mutli-Purpose Centre
FacilityContactDetailsAppointment required
Morisset Multi-Purpose Centre
143 Dora St, Morisset, NSW 		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

3rd Thursday of each month, 9am - 1pm

  • 16 January
  • 20 February
  • 20 March
  • 17 April
  • 15 May
  • 19 June
  • 17 July
  • 21 August
  • 18 September
  • 16 October
  • 20 November
  • No clinic in December
  •  
Raymond Terrace Community Health Centre
FacilityContactDetailsAppiontment required 
Raymond Terrace Community Health Centre
4 Jacaranda Ave, Raymond Terrace, NSW		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

2nd Tuesday of each month, 9am - 1pm

  • 14 January
  • 11 February
  • 11 March
  • 8 April
  • 13 May
  • 10 June
  • 8 July
  • 12 August
  • 9 September
  • 14 October
  • 11 November
  • 9 December
  •  
Singleton Community Health Centre
FacilityContactDetailsAppiontment required
Singleton Community Health Centre (located with Singleton Hospital) 
Boonal St, Singleton, NSW 2230		Phone: (02) 6571 9248Call before each clinic to check date and time.
  •  
Tamworth Early Childhood Clinic
FacilityContactDetailsAppiontment required
Tamworth Early Childhood Clinic
16 Kathleen St, Tamworth, NSW		Phone: (02) 6767 8100

Call before each clinic to check date and time.

Clinics occur on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month (excluding public holidays).

  •  
Taree Community Health Centre
FacilityContactDetailsAppointment required
Taree Community Health Centre
64 Pulteney St, Taree		Phone: (02) 6592 9315

Call before each clinic to check date and time.

  • Tuesdays (except after or on public holidays), 9am - 1pm
  • Thursdays (except after or on public holidays),1.30pm - 3.30pm.
  •  
Toronto Polyclinic
FacilityContactDetailsAppointment required
Toronto Polyclinic
6 James St, Toronto, NSW 2283		Phone (02) 4923 6920

1st Thursday of each month, 9am - 1pm

  • No clinic in January
  • 6 February
  • 6 March
  • 3 April
  • 1 May
  • 5 June
  • 3 July
  • 7 August
  • 4 September
  • 2 October
  • 6 November
  • 4 December
  •  
Waratah Child and Family Health Centre
FacilityContactDetailsAppiontment required
Waratah Child and Family Health Centre
Waratah Health Campus
149 Turton Rd, Waratah, NSW 2298		Phone: (02) 4923 6920

3rd Wednesday of each month, 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm.

  • 15 January
  • 19 February
  • 19 March
  • 16 April
  • 21 May
  • 18 June
  • 16 July
  • 20 August
  • 17 September
  • 15 October
  • 19 November
  • 17 December
  •  

School vaccinations

Vaccination is a safe an effective way to protect your child from serious illness now and later in life. In NSW free routine vaccinations to students in year's 7 and 10 at school by specially trained registered nurses. You must provide consent for your child to receive free vaccinations at school.

NSW School vaccination program

NSW Health works with schools to offer the recommended vaccines. You can find out more about the NSW school vaccination program.

If your child has missed a vaccine

Students who miss a vaccine due to absence on the day of the nurses' visit will be offered a catch-up vaccination. Where this is not possible, parents will be advised that free a catch-up vaccine is available at their local GP.

Vaccination summary to enrol a child in a new school

Schools only need the records for your child up to the age of 4 years, as this was their primary vaccination course. Schools don't need records of vaccinations given within the school program.

Request a school vaccination record

For records of your child’s immunisations for child care, preschool or school enrolment, contact the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) on 1800 653 809 to obtain an AIR Immunisation History Statement.

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

The Aboriginal Immunisation Program is designed to contact parents, families and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children before their immunisations are due.

PHU Aboriginal Immunisation program

We offer telephone support to you and your family, as part of the Aboriginal Immunisation Program. We also send out text message reminders before each immunisation milestone.

We can let you know about resources and services in your area so your child can be immunised. Or if your child has been immunised we can help adjust their immunisation record on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

This is how we will contact you and what we will offer:

  • telephone support: pre-call
  • send text message reminders
  • send out immunisation history statements
  • connect families with free immunisation clinics.

Helpful links

Contact PHU Aboriginal immunisation

Public Health Unit Aboriginal Immunisation team:

  • Katrina Clark - Aboriginal Immunisation Manager - Wallsend Office, (02) 4924 6477
  • Hannah Briggs - Aboriginal Immunisation Health Worker - Tamworth Office, 0498 448 248 

Information for health professionals

The Public Health Unit provides general advice and information on adult and childhood immunisation to healthcare providers, excluding travel vaccinations. We also follow up on reports of adverse reactions to vaccinations which medical practitioners and hospitals are required to notify under the Public Health Act 2010.

You can find out more about vaccine preventable diseases in the Australian immunisation handbook.

Contact Hunter New England Immunisation

For more information you can call us on: (02) 4924 6477 or email us at:

HNELHD-PHImmunisation@health.nsw.gov.au

Adverse event following immunisation

Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI)

Find out more about what an adverse event following an immunisation is, including how to report an AEFI:

Contact HNE AEFI: HNELHD-PopHealthAEFI@health.nsw.gov.au

HNE PHU phone: 1300 066 055

Catch-up vaccination

Find out more about catch-up vaccinations for refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia as well as information on additional free vaccines provided in NSW:

Cold chain management

Cold chain is a system of transporting and storing vaccines within the safe temperature range of +2C to +8C. Find out more about storing vaccines, cold chain management and managing a cold chain breach:

Authority to immunise

Find out more information for immunisation providers, including:

  • vaccination authorities
  • e-learning modules for Australian immunisation Register users
  • clinical information.
Overseas vaccination

You can find out more about:

Rabies or Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Contact the PHU on (02) 4924 6477 immediately to report potential contact with bats in Australia or mammals overseas.

Information required to initially report contact:

  • Name, DOB, contact number
  • Details of animal and type of contact
  • Immunosuppression
  • Weight
  • Previous vaccination

Do not send patients to emergency departments. There is no maximum time between exposure and treatment.

Find out more about rabies and other lyssavirus infections. 

Vaccination ordering and how to apply for a Vaccine Account Number (VAN)

Find out more about vaccine ordering and management including:

Referrals

All appointments require a valid referral, using the Immunisation referral form.

Use SeNT eReferral to send referrals to the Hunter New England LHD.  If your GP management system does not support SeNT, you can fax the referral to (02) 4922 3904.

Related information

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