Vaccination is recommended for all adolescents in Australia, except under very specific circumstances.
If your adolescent chooses not to be vaccinated, they will be more likely to catch a range of infectious diseases that can be serious.
Your adolescent may also face limitations when it comes to access to school, travel options and employment opportunities.
It is normal for some adolescents to be afraid of having a needle.
Needles can hurt and some adolescents worry about this pain.1 Research studies show that needle pain can be worse when we are worried and afraid.2
Sometimes an adolescent becomes so afraid of a needle, their body creates a stress response.
Symptoms of a stress response can include increased heart rate, feeling faint, dizziness and difficulty breathing.1
The good news is you can do things to make your adolescent less worried and more comfortable about having a needle. These include:
It is normal for your adolescent to be nervous about being vaccinated at school. This may be your adolescent’s first time being vaccinated without a parent or carer present.
Or your adolescent may be worried about showing emotions in front of their friends.
For school vaccinations, you can address these concerns by calling your local Public Health Unit to discuss if your adolescent can be vaccinated first or in a private room.
When you call, you can also ask any other questions you have about school immunisation.
If your adolescent still does not want to be vaccinated at a school clinic, you can arrange to have your adolescent vaccinated outside of the school immunisation program. For example, you could visit your regular doctor, nurse, community health worker or pharmacist. Some of these out-of-school clinic appointments may charge a fee for the visit (such as a consultation fee).
Vaccination is recommended for all adolescents except in very specific circumstances. Examples include having had a severe reaction like anaphylaxis from a specific vaccine or having certain medical conditions or specific medical treatments. Discuss with your doctor, nurse or preferred healthcare provider whether your adolescent has one of these medical conditions.
If your adolescent refuses to be vaccinated or to get all of their recommended vaccinations on time, there is an increased risk they will catch a serious infection and spread it to other family members. This could include younger siblings and grandparents. It also increases your adolescent’s risk of developing a serious illness that requires them to miss school or go to hospital.
Refusing to be vaccinated can limit access to school and to some work opportunities. Vaccine refusal also increases the risk of infection when travelling or being visited by friends and family who have recently travelled within or outside of Australia.
Delaying school vaccinations may also mean your adolescent misses the opportunity to receive some of their vaccines free of charge. For example, all of the vaccines delivered through school immunisation programs are given without a fee. Catch-up vaccination appointments at a private doctor or pharmacy clinic may require you to pay a consultation or administration fee.
If your adolescent is still unsure about being vaccinated, make an appointment to discuss these concerns with a trusted doctor, nurse or community health worker.
Please note: In SKAI Adolescent, the phrase ‘your adolescent’ refers to all guardian relationships where health decisions for an adolescent fall under your responsibility.
Drafts of this page were reviewed by members of our Consumer Advisory Group.