Illness & Immunisation
Illness & Immunisation
Illness
Children in group care situations often catch more illnesses than children who are at home. This is because there are more opportunities to come into contact with children who are ill. Do not be surprised if your child seems to be ill more often in the first year – especially if this is their first time in group care.
On the upside, we find that children tend to have less sickness after they are here longer – perhaps they build up their immunity through prior exposure to infection.
If your child is sick during the day, we will contact you and ask that you collect them from care as soon as possible. It is important that you have alternate care arrangements should this occur.
Our Centres can be a busy and sometimes noisy place, so children who are ill do not cope as well. While we can isolate and nurse a sick child until mum or dad arrives, we unfortunately do not have the staff resources to do this for an extended period.
If your child is sick or it is suspected that some other illness is developing, it is advisable not to bring them to the Centre.
We can provide additional information on when the child can return to school- our prime objective is to protect the child who is ill and the other children who are attending.
Department of Health guidelines provide the basis of our strict exclusion policy for children who have communicable illnesses.
* Excludable illness’ s are: Chicken Pox, Cold Sores, Vomiting; Diarrhoea, Rubella, Hepatitis A, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, Whooping Cough, Conjunctivitis, Ring Worm, Impetigo, Scabies; Strep Throat
Immunisation
The Public Health Act requires all children entering into Early Childhood programmes to show evidence of Immunisation for the following diseases- Measles, Rubella, Mumps, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Whooping Cough. As immunisations are up dated, parents must provide the Office with an updated copy of the child’ s immunisation record.
Which documents will be required from parents / guardians?
Upon enrolment of their child, parents / guardians must provide:
• An Australian Childhood IllImmunisation Register( ACIR) Immunisation History Statement which shows that their child is up to date with their scheduled immunisations, or;
• An ACIR ** Immunisation Exemption Conscientious Objection Form( IMMU12) which has been certified by an immunisation provider and a parent / guardian, or;
• An ACIR ** Immunisation Exemption- Medical Contraindication Form( IMMU11) which has been certified by an immunisation provider, or;
• An ACIR ** Immunisation History form on which the immunisation provider has certified that the child is on a recognised catch-up schedule.
** These forms need to be signed by the doctor / immunisation provider and lodged with Medicare and a copy provided by the parent to the child care centre on enrolment.
A copy of their child ' s immunisation details can also be obtained at any time:
• by calling the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
• through Medicare Online Services at www. medicareaustralia. gov. au / online
• by requesting a statement by emailing acir @ medicareaustralia. gov. au
• by visiting the local Department of Human Services Service Centre, Medicare office or Centrelink office
It is also recommended, though not compulsory, to have children immunized for Haemophilus influenzae type b( Hib) and Hepatitis B.
Children who are not immunised- whether for medical or personal reasons- will be required to leave the Centre should an outbreak of one of the above diseases occur. Parents will still be liable for any fees payable.
Medication
If your child is on any prescribed medication and it needs to be administered while the child is in care- then you will need to complete the medication form located in your child’ s playroom.
It needs to be signed each day that your child needs the medicine.
Only medication prescribed for your child by a registered doctor can be administered. We cannot administer non-prescribed drugs- other than Panadol or similar. Please ensure that it is labeled correctly( Including your child’ s name and the current date). Homeopathic Medicines are regarded as non prescribed.
Medications should be handed over to a member of staff- who will place it into the medication storage container. Do not, for any reason, leave medication in your child’ s bag – remember there are other children in the centre who may be able to access it.
If your child is on antibiotics it is important that they complete the course prescribed by your doctor. Many people stop the medication once their child seems well. Often the illness is just on it’ s last legs, but when the medication stops it fights back. Completing the course of medication ensures that child can recover fully.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Handbook for Parents Griffith Child Care Centre Inc 16