4 Comments

Firstly let me say that I believe in vaccinating children. I am an RN and have worked in remote areas and traveled in some very poor countries. I have cared for people with TB, Malaria, Rheumatic Fever, Hansons Disease,Pertusis to name a few.

My son entered year 7, first year high school this year. In February, the first week of school he had a notice sent home which was a consent for him to receive his vaccinations for HPV,( Gardasil ) and Boostrex ( Tetenus, Pertussis and Diptheria) which I signed giving my consent.

The first of the 3 Gardasil was to be given on the 16/ 17 April. Unfortunately my boy was sick on the 16 April, and they didn’t give any vaccinations on the 17th. I contacted the school, and then the council, normally you can have vaccinations at the Council clinic at the Town Hall. I was told that I had to take him to my GP. So I explained to the staff that all his vaccinations would be given by my GP. I presumed the consent was then nul and void.

I took my son tho the GP and he had the Boostrex and HPV, recorded in his travel book, and I presumed that by telling the council that was my intention they would not give him any more vaccinations.

He was not called up for the second HPV.

Last week he came home to tell me he had been given an injection at school, handing me a vaccination slip for Boostrex.

So he had been vaccinated twice in 3 months for something that wasn’t due for 5-10 years.

I was extremly upset and concerned that this may cause him to become unwell.

I contacted the school, the Australian Gov Immunisation department, who gave me the Tasmanian Gov Immunisation dept, who then gave me the Councils number. I also contacted my GP.

The School immunisation program is not commputer based and records are only kept in Adelaide until a child is aged 7 so I was told.

They do have a problem, they are aware that the consent system is not efective,and they are trying to rectify this. They tried to tell me that I should have informed them that he had been vaccinated, I DID this when I told them that ALL of his vaccinations would be given by my GP.

Please be aware as the school didn’t send home any notices that vaccinations would be given on any days, otherwise I could have prevented this, or I could have had the opportunity to have sent his Travel Medical Book in with him and they would have been able to check his records.

Not everyone has a Travel Book, they are a great document, it helps keep a record of all vaccinations.

What I am trying to say is that the school vaccination system is important but be aware some children do get vaccinated without proper checks being made.

My son suffered a very sore swollen arm, and a few days later came out in a bacterial infection, which he has antibiotics for. This may or may not be due to his immune system being given a battering.

---

Posted by aunty joc, 22nd August 2013