Child Immunisation in Point Cook
Immunisation protects children against diseases that can make them very sick. Juniper Avenue Medical Centre provides child immunisation, with doctors and nurses on the team, and parents can bring any questions about the schedule to the appointment.
The National Immunisation Program schedule
Free vaccines are given at birth, then at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months and at 4 years. The first doses can be given from 6 weeks of age. In Victoria, secondary school students are offered more vaccines through the school program: HPV and a diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough booster in Year 7, and meningococcal ACWY in Year 10. Flu vaccine is also free each year for children from 6 months to under 5 years.
This timing is designed to protect children when they are most at risk. Young babies can become seriously ill from whooping cough, so doses are worth giving on time.
Diseases the schedule covers
- Whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus
- Measles, mumps and rubella
- Polio and hepatitis B
- Pneumococcal and meningococcal disease
- Rotavirus, chickenpox and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
No Jab No Pay and No Jab No Play
Being up to date, or on an approved catch-up schedule, is needed for some family assistance payments and the Child Care Subsidy. Victorian childcare centres and kindergartens also require an immunisation history statement for enrolment. You can download this statement for your child through your Medicare account in myGov.
Catching up after a missed dose
Illness, a move or a hectic few months can easily push a dose back. A child who has fallen behind does not usually need to restart the course. A doctor can check the record on the Australian Immunisation Register and plan the remaining doses. Children who arrived from overseas may need a catch-up plan based on vaccines they had in their home country. Missed vaccines on the National Immunisation Program are free to catch up for anyone under 20.
Helping your child through the needle
- Bring the child health record book if you have one
- Feed or cuddle a baby during or straight after the injection
- Bring a favourite toy or something to watch as a distraction
- Give older children a simple, honest explanation beforehand rather than a surprise
- Stay calm yourself, as children pick up on how you feel
Questions parents often ask about child immunisation
Is it too much to give several vaccines at once? Babies’ immune systems handle many new germs every day, and the vaccines scheduled together have been tested to work safely together. Combining them also means fewer visits and fewer needles.
Should a vaccine wait if my child has a cold? A mild cold without a high fever generally does not mean the vaccine has to wait. Mention any illness on the day, or a past reaction to a vaccine, before the injection.
The day or two afterwards
Staying nearby for 15 minutes after vaccination is standard advice. Mild soreness, redness or a low fever is common and usually settles within a day or two. Offer extra fluids and cuddles, dress your child lightly if they feel warm, and use a cool, damp cloth on a sore spot.
Contact the clinic if a fever is high or lasts more than two days, or if your child seems very unwell. Call 000 if your child struggles to breathe, develops a puffy face, or is floppy and hard to wake.
Fees and bulk billing
Childhood and adult immunisations are bulk billed with all our doctors. Some vaccines are not funded under the National Immunisation Program, so the vaccine itself may have a cost. See our fees page or call reception to check before your appointment.