Chicken pox vaccine Australia

[Thefourthcraw]

We are moving to Australia from the UK for 3 years. I have heard that kids in Australia are vaccinated against chicken pox as part of their childhood vaccination schedule. My almost 6 year old and 2 year old have not had chicken pox and I was wondering whether to vaccinate them privately before we go. It seems they are unlikely to catch in during our time there and then I’m worried, particularly about DS2 catching it, when he’s 9 or older. Is there a way of checking whether your child is immune? DS2 sat next to a child at his childminders who came out in the spots 24 hours later and he never caught it!

There’s a blood test for immunity, you can ask your GP or you might have to go private?

You could check with a blood test, but really the vaccination would be less invasive and wouldn’t do any harm even if they were immune. They’re likely not immune though if you’ve never seen any sign of them having it. Would it be cheaper to get it done in Australia?

Pretty sure it is compulsory to have been vaccinated to attend school there. (Unless mitigating circumstances obvs)

I had dd's 20 immunity checked last week (she is doing Camp America and they wanted proof of 2x vaccine or immunity. As i hadnt taken to the doctors there was no proof there either)

She had her immunity tested at Citidocs which cost £50 and was back in 2 working days. I would look at the price over here vs the price in Australia for vaccines. You will need 2 doses 4 weeks apart

When we came over I brought my dc immunisation cert to the Dr and they gave them the ones they were missing. Chicken pox is one dose. You need to show your immunisation certs when registering for school/Day care ect.

When we moved to Oz from UK, they did a catchup vaccination schedule to make sure that we were covered for all the Oz requirements... and yes, if you are not vaccinated - without a medical reason - they will withhold your Child Care Benefits/Subsidy!

Might be just as well to do it when you get here and visit a doctor (most doctor's surgeries have a nurse practitioner who can do immunisations and fill in immunisation record in the online system)

They just did a catch up schedule for DS when we moved to Australia when he was 18 months.

My dds had the vaccine in Oz. When we came back to the uk to live, they caught chicken pox one after the other. Luckily it was only mild as their friends at school got it a lot worse.

Take your red book and show the GP - if you have Medicare then they will do catch up vaccines of any they have missed for free. Well that was my experience in Victoria anyway. Mine had the chicken pox one aged 9 and 12.