Information regarding medical exemptions for immunisations
Dear Department of Health,
I hereby request the following information for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Please note the word "children" refers to those up to the age of 5 years.
Information requested:
1. The total number of children currently listed as exempt from the entire National Immunisation Program.
2. The total number of children currently listed as exempt from part of the National Immunisation Program.
3. The total number of children currently listed as exempt from the entire National Immunisation Program due to natural immunity.
4. The total number of children currently listed as exempt from part of the National Immunisation Program due to natural immunity.
5. The total number of children currently listed as exempt from the entire National Immunisation Program due to religious beliefs.
6. The number of children currently listed as exempt from part of the National Immunisation Program due to religious beliefs.
7. The number of children currently listed as exempt from the entire National Immunisation Program due to a previous allergic reaction or adverse event following vaccination.
8. The number of children currently listed as exempt from part of the National Immunisation Program due to a previous allergic reaction or adverse event following vaccination.
9. The number of children currently listed as exempt from the entire National Immunisation Program due to being significantly immunocompromised.
10. The number of children currently listed as exempt from part of the National Immunisation Program due to being significantly immunocompromised.
Please separate these numbers into 2 groups; 1. those approved before the changes to the medical exemption criteria were implemented in 2016, and 2. those approved after these changes were made.
Yours faithfully,
Shanna Miller
Attention: Shanna Miller
The right of access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) applies to a ‘document’ of an agency, rather than ‘information’.
Your request lists a number of questions but does not seek any particular documents.
The Department of Health (Department) does not regard your request as a valid one.
The FOI Act does not require the Department to create a document that answers your request for information.
Please reframe your request by reference to documents you are seeking access to.
Kind regards
FOI Officer
FOI Unit
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Legal & Assurance Division
Australian Government Department of Health
T: (02) 6289 1666 | E: [Health request email]
PO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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