The Hepatitis B vaccination regime is now part of the National Australian Immunisation Schedule. This means that if your child is not fully immunised you may not be eligible for Childcare assistance payments and other government family benefits.
If you wish to decline Hepatitis B vaccination for your baby, you should complete a 'conscientious objection' form from the Health Insurance Commission (HIC), so that it is recorded on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR). This form needs to be signed by a doctor to be validated. The aim of the form is to clarify which parents are consciously choosing not to immunise, as distinct from parents who simply overlook keeping their baby's immunisation schedule up to date.
Some parents want their baby to have the Hepatitis B vaccinations, but wish to delay this until the child is a little older. A course of vaccinations (if not given at birth) consists of 3 injections. You can start the 1st injection at any time, with the 2nd injection about 1 month later and the 3rd injection, 5 months after the 2nd injection.
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