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School-based immunisation program

  • Every year the National Immunisation Program (NIP) funds free, routine recommended vaccines to all year 7 and year 10 students across Western Australia.
  • These vaccines are administered primarily through the School-based Immunisation Program (SBIP).
  • However, young people who have not received their immunisations through the SBIP for whatever reason, can be caught up at a participating external provider (pharmacy, GP, community health immunisation clinic, or Aboriginal Medical Service).
  • The HPV vaccine prevents cancer. It is important to ensure adolescents who missed this vaccine are caught up so that Australia remains on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

 

Current adolescent vaccine schedule

School year Vaccine Disease information  Free catch-up

7

 

HPV (human papillomavirus) – 1 dose

HPV/genital warts

Cervical cancer and HPV

  <26 years of age

7
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) – 1 dose

Diphtheria (HealthyWA)

Tetanus (HealthyWA)

Pertussis (whooping cough)

  <20 years of age

10
Meningococcal ACWY – 1 dose
Meningococcal

  <20 years of age

Program information and consent

An immunisation intent (yes or no) response must be completed by each student's parent/guardian, via the secure online consent form (which links to Department of health's vaccination management system, VacccinateWA). This advises the provider of whether the parent/guardian consents to their child receiving their immunisations through the SBIP, or declines (which includes intention to have their child immunised by an external provider rather than the SBIP or not immunised at all).

If the online form is not accessible for whatever reason, a response can also be provided via completion and return of the immunisation consent form, accessible for printing at Adolescent immunisation information for parents and guardians. A hard copy form can also be requested from the child's school.

Refer to the Adolescent immunisation webpage for vaccine information fact sheets, translated resources, and more.

 

Catch-up vaccinations

If students miss their vaccine at school, they are eligible to receive government funded catch-up vaccines from their community immunisation clinic or at their GP, pharmacists, or Aboriginal Medical Services (the vaccine is free, however some organisations may charge a service fee).

Catch-up vaccination should occur as soon as possible, however:

  • If dTpa and MenACWY vaccination has been missed, young people remain eligible for catch-up until they turn 20 years of age.
  • If HPV vaccination has been missed, young people remain eligible for catch-up until they turn 26 years of age.

Refer to catch-up vaccination on the Australian Immunisation Handbook (external site) for more information.

 

Resources

The following resources have been developed to support schools and councils to work together as they deliver the school-based immunisation program:

Contact

If you are an SBIP staff member with a VaccinateWA-related query, pleasee contact:

  • VaccinateWA Team - ICT Applications, Health Support Services

Email: hss.vaccinatewasupport@health.wa.gov.au

To request a change to any resources, or the creation of new resources, contact:

  • Immunisation Program – Communicable Disease Control Directorate

Email: immunisation@health.wa.gov.au

For all other SBIP queries:

  • Please escalate your query internally in the first instance, as per your workplace's processes
  • Immunisation Program - Communicable Disease Control Directorate

Phone: (08) 9222 2486

Email: SBIP@health.wa.gov.au

Last reviewed: 09-01-2026
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wa.gov.au