A timely new tool, personalised childhood vaccination schedule has recently been released by NSW Health as data has revealed childhood vaccinations are declining and increasing cases of measles are circulating in communities.

Parents can create a customised vaccination schedule based on their child’s date of birth, which provides personalised guidance and practical reminders to help parents ensure vaccinations are received when required and give their children the best protection from serious diseases.

The aim of the tool is to keep the community safe from the spread of serious illness by improving ways to reduce pressure on the health system and to enable better access to care for families.

One week before vaccinations are due, parents will receive a reminder that will establish a phone calendar entry for the day vaccinations are due.

The customised schedule was informed by research commissioned by NSW Health, which found many parents and carers felt unsure and overwhelmed about where to start when it came to vaccinating their child.

Families can also use the new ‘add to calendar’ feature, which automatically adds a child’s vaccination dates to their parent’s phone calendar.

Acting Director of Health Protection at NSW Health Dr Vicky Sheppeard. [Image ACPCC]

“Delaying vaccines can leave children unprotected during important stages of development so we are strongly encouraging parents to book their children in at the recommended ages. This is when the vaccination works best,” said Acting Director of Health Protection at NSW Health Dr Vicky Sheppeard.

“Even if your child has a runny nose or a mild cold, don’t delay vaccination. Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure your child is protected as early as possible.

“We know that most missed childhood vaccinations in NSW are due to delays from parents who are time poor, overwhelmed or confused from the amount of information out there, so we wanted to create a trustworthy, easy-to-understand tool that reflects their child’s individual needs,” said Dr Sheppeard.

Consultation with immunisation providers before a child is administered a vaccine is very important for parents and carers to make sure everyone is onboard with procedures before they go ahead.

Parents will receive a reminder one week before the vaccination date, along with a calendar entry on their phone for the day the vaccination is due. The personalised vaccination schedule is a guide only.

According to NSW Health, Parents should always speak with their immunisation provider before their child has a vaccine.

Vaccinations in NSW are free for whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox, which are highly contagious amongst children, and the immunisation schedule indicates the best age for children to receive each vaccination.

Experts select the timing so each child will receive the optimal level of protection for each disease.

Parents are warned that delaying or missing a vaccination will increase the risk of serious disease, and despite more than 90 per cent of children in NSW fully immunised, it is imperative to improve this rate to keep children and the community safe from serious illness.

Vaccinations are available from GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, some local councils and some community health centres. You can also find a vaccination provider on the healthdirect website.

If your child has missed a vaccine, speak to your GP, nurse or Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS). For more information, visit: www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaccinate