2.6.2.30 CCS - immunisation approved exemptions

• the child is in the care of an individual under a state or territory child welfare law and neither the individual nor their partner has legal authority to make decisions about the medical treatment of the child, and
• if the child is aged under 14 years, the person with legal authority to make decisions about the medical treatment of the child has refused or failed within a reasonable timeframe, to provide consent to the individual taking actions to enable the child to meet the immunisation requirements, or
• if the child is aged at least 14 years, the child has refused, or failed within a reasonable time, to provide consent to the individual taking actions to enable the child to meet the usual immunisation requirements.

Note: Where biological parents of the child/ren are separated and there is a court order in place that includes a clause stating both parents are unable to vaccinate their child/ren without agreement from the other parent an exemption from immunisation may be approved with evidence. If the biological parents of the child/ren are separated and there is no court order in place, either parent may exercise their parental responsibilities, either independently or jointly, regarding making medical decisions such as choosing to vaccinate.

• taking action to meet the immunisation requirements would result in the child, the individual who has care of the child or a member of the immediate family of the individual or the child being at risk of family violence.

• the parent or carer is not eligible for CCS
• the child does not meet the immunisation requirements, or their immunisation status is unknown, and
• the provider believes the child would be at increased risk of serious abuse or neglect if the child does not get access to the subsidy.

• the individual is a permanent humanitarian visa holder and has not had the opportunity to immunise their child.

Note: An exemption under this category can only be applied for a maximum period of 6 months after the child first enters Australia. When the exemption ends the customer will be placed into a grace period if they are still not up to date.

• a listed medical practitioner (1.1.L.28) has certified in writing that immunisation of the child would result in an unacceptable risk of physical harm to the child or a person administering a vaccination to the child, and
• the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer has certified in writing that they agree with the listed medical practitioner.

• Medical contraindication or natural immunity certified by a recognised immunisation provider through the AIR site or on the AIR Immunisation medical exemption form (IM011).

• A signed letter, from the researchers which verifies that the child is a participant of a vaccine study, and
• evidence that the study is approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council.

• The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer must certify in writing that a vaccine, or all vaccines, are temporarily unavailable.

• A child who was vaccinated in another country meets the immunisation requirements if a recognised immunisation provider completes and signs the Australian Immunisation Register immunisation history form (IM013) for the vaccines administered overseas and provides a signed letter detailing the vaccines received.

• evidence of a formal or informal care arrangement between the primary carer and the individual with legal authority to vaccinate the child to show proof of care
• if the child is aged under 14 years
  • evidence that the individual with legal authority to vaccinate the child does not give authority for the child to be vaccinated, or evidence that authority has not been provided within a reasonable timeframe (for example, statutory declaration from carer and letter from authority that the person with legal authority has not provided consent), or
• if the child is aged 14 years or over
  • evidence that the child does not consent or has not given consent in a reasonable timeframe to being immunised (for example, statutory declaration from carer or a letter from a recognised immunisation provider that the child has refused).

• individuals must be referred to a Centrelink social worker and each case will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applicable documentation is to be determined by the Centrelink social worker.

• an approved provider's (1.1.A.90) eligibility for ACCS (child wellbeing) is being assessed (4.13.2.40), and
• an application in the form and manner deemed appropriate by the Secretary will be required in support of an exemption.

An eligibility assessment is determined when the Department of Home Affairs data link is established for the child. This is generally established by Refugee and Asylum Seeker (RAS) Service Officers during new claim interview.

The system will automatically apply a Secretary determination exemption to the customer's record:

• when a customer's claim is submitted, and
• both the customer and child satisfy Humanitarian Visa subclass and FTB eligibility requirements, which includes
• care of the child, and
• correct visa subclass category

• a listed medical practitioner (1.1.M.40) has certified in writing, on an approved form, that immunisation of the child would result in an unacceptable risk of physical harm to the child or a person administering a vaccination to the child, and
• the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer has certified in writing that he or she agrees with the listed medical practitioner.

Note: A recipient (1.1.R.07) can seek referral to a listed medical practitioner through a general practitioner or a state or territory health department.