Immunisation Resources
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Immunisation in NSW
Immunisation Toolkit for General Practices
This Toolkit was developed to support general practices to implement the NSW Immunisation Program.
NSW Health have developed this Toolkit to support general practices
Funded NIP vaccines (NIP funded)
- NSW Immunisation Schedule updated July 2020
- Poster: A3 NSW Childhood Immunisation Schedule
- Poster: Recommended sites for childhood vaccination in NSW
Funded catch-up vaccine (NIP funded)
- Catch up vaccines for 10 to 19 years
- Catch-up vaccines for 20 years and over (for refugees and humanitarian entrants)
Funded NSW vaccine (NSW Health funded)
Recommended (including non-funded) vaccines
- Recommended vaccines: For non-Indigenous Australians - NCIRS
- Recommended vaccines: For Indigenous Australians - NCIRS
- Recommended vaccines in Pregnancy: Influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy - Clinical Advice
- Vaccination for health ageing (50 years and over) - Australian Immunisation Handbook
Vaccine Safety and Adverse Events
- Download: AEFI reporting form (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) - TGA
- Order: Following vaccination - what to expect tear-off pad
- Vaccine safety data - AusVaxSafety
Anaphylaxis requirements
- Download: Anaphylaxis response kit - Immunisation Handbook
- Download: Managing anaphylaxis after vaccination - Immunisation Handbook
- Download: Anaphylaxis wallchart or order: A3 poster - Australian Prescriber
- Download: Anaphylaxis recognition of symptoms - ASCIA
- Download: Adrenaline dose chart - Australian Prescriber
Clinical tools
- Catch-up Calculator (for children under 10 years) - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- New! PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool - Nov 2020, Immunisation Coalition
- Zostavax Screening Tool - NSW Health
- Meningococcal vaccination by age and risk group - Australian Prescriber
Participation in roll-out
- Commonwealth: COVID-19 vaccine EOI for Accredited General practices
- COVID-19 vaccine rollout: Expression of Interest for primary care participation in Phase 1B
Education
- CESPHN Scholarship: Scholarship for Authorised Nurse Immuniser course
- Commonwealth: COVID-19 vaccine education module - TBA: The Australian College of Nursing is leading the preparation of the training materials which will cover the handling and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
Clinical Tools
Department of Health
- COVID-19 News and Information website
- Australia’s Epidemiology and COVID-19 Vaccine Roadmap
- Australian COVID -19 Vaccination Policy
ATAGI - Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation
- Advice on the relative timing of administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines
- Prioritisation of target populations for COVID-19 vaccine
TGA - Therapeutic Goods Administration
- COVID-19 vaccine updates
- AEFI reporting form (Adverse Events Following Immunisation)
Anaphylaxis
- Minimum requirement:Anaphylaxis response kit - Immunisation Handbook
- Managing anaphylaxis after vaccination - Immunisation Handbook
- Anaphylaxis wallchart or order: A3 poster - Australian Prescriber
- Anaphylaxis recognition of symptoms - ASCIA
- Adrenaline dose chart - Australian Prescriber
- ASCIA Action Plans for Anaphylaxis
Vaccine Safety and Adverse Events
- Vaccine safety data - AusVaxSafety
- Following vaccination - what to expect tear-off pad
Resources
DOH posters for your practice
- Do I need to wear a mask - Poster
NSW Health posters and signs for your pactice
Data Extraction Tools
Latest Articles
Access the Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Digital Handbook - online version for your computer
- Download Handbook App on your mobile phone
Resources from the Australian Immunisation Handbook
Government AIR user guides
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for individuals - Services Australia
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for organisations - Services Australia
- Guide to using the AIR - WA Department of Health
PRODA
Authentication file log in to AIR will soon be decommissioned. You will soon only be able to access AIR via a PRODA account.
OR
- How to register for a PRODA account (to access AIR) - CESPHN Information Sheet
- Video: How to create and use a PRODA account - Services Australia
Need help? Call the PRODA team on 1800 700 199
PRODA delegations (to access AIR)
- PRODA delegations for AIR access - CESPHN Information Sheet
- Supporting and understanding delegations in HPOS to access AIR - NCIRS
How to use online AIR functions
Helpful resources and videos created by QLD Health: Using the Australian Immunisation Register
How to:
- Log onto AIR
- Record an immunisation encounter
- View a patient's vaccine record
- Enter overseas vaccine records
- How patients can access their immunisation statement from AIR
Generate Reports: AIR Overdue immunisation
- AIR10A Due and Overdue Report - Services Australia
- National due and overdue rules - Services Australia
- How to request AIR 10A report and How to use AIR 10A report - CESPHN guideline
- Following up overdue children - CESPHN guideline
Would you prefer your PHN to send you your practice's Overdue childhood immunsation report? Contact immunisation@cesphn.com.au to register your interest.
AIR data quality
- Enhancing data quality of vaccination encounters - NCIRS
- pdf Data Quality user guide (1012 KB) - Services Australia
- Dose number errors - CESPHN guildeline
Request Access to the AIR
- Accessing AIR via HPOS - (Health Professionals Online Service)
- Requesting AIR Secure Site Access
- Application to register as a vaccination provider form (IM004)
Immunisation qualification
- 307 Immunisation for Health Practitioners - Australian College of Nursing*
- Immunisation Endorsement Program - The Benchmarque Group*
Upon completion of accreditation program, RNs will be able to immunise independent of medical officers in NSW. If practicing outside of NSW, check health policies in the relevant state or territory to confirm eligibility to immunise independent of medical officers.
*HESA accredited programs - Health Education Services Australia
NSW Ministry of Health Policy
- Authority for RNs and Midwives Dec 2020
- Authorised Nurse Immuniser Policy Directive Dec 2020
CPD - Continuing Professional Development
- Immunisation Education - webinars, online modules, and workshops
- CESPHN Events (offers CPR courses)
- AHPRA mandatory training
To maintain authority to immunise, registered nurses must annually review best practice policy for immunisation.
This may be, but is not limited to, attendance at seminars on current practices. An annual statement of proficiency in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must also be obtained.
Covid-19 Vaccine
- Department of Health: Community pharmacy COVID-19 vaccine rollout from Phase 2A
- Pharmacy Programs Administrator: Pharmacy participation in Phase 2A – call for Expressions of Interest (EOI)
- Pharmacy Guild: EOI for community pharmacies to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination
Recording to AIR - How to guidelines
- MedAdvisor - How to record immunisations and upload to AIR
- GuildNG - How to submit vaccination records to the AIR
Vaccines from community pharmacy – at a glance - NCIRS (April 2020)
Standards and Guidelines
- NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards - May 2020
- NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008
- National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ - updated June 2019
- Australian Immunisation Handbook - digital handbook, or download Mobile app
Forms
- AIR: Application to register as a vaccination provider form (IM004)
- NSW Pharmacist Declaration Form
- Register for PRODA - Individual account
- Reegister for PRODA - Organisation account
Information
- Vaccines from community pharmacy – Summary legislation by state and territory (NCIRS)
- NSW Pharmaceutical services: Pharmacist initiation and administration of vaccines
- NSW Immunisation programs: Pharmacist initiation and administration of vaccines
- Guild guidelines for community pharmacy vaccine service (NSW) - February 2020
Accredited training programs
- PSA Immunisation Training - Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
- Pharmacy Guild Immunisation Course - The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- Catch-up Calculator (for children under 10 years) - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Catch-up guide: Measles vaccination - NCIRS
- Free catch-up vaccines for all individuals aged 10 to 19 years (ongoing) - Department of Health
- Free catch-up vaccines for refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over (ongoing) - Department of Health
- Catch-up vaccination - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Catch-up vaccination for adolescents and adults - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Table: Number of vaccine doses the child should have received by their current age - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Table: Minimum acceptable dose intervals for children less than 10 years of age - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Catch-up immunisations - Department of Health
- WHO immunisation schedules by country
- Foreign Language Terms - aids to translating foreign immunisation records
- Apply for a Vaccine Account Number (VAN)
- Log in: NSW Vaccine Centre - Online Ordering System
- NSW Vaccine Centre - User guide for providers (Dec 2020)
- Phone: 1300 656 132
The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records vaccinations given to people of all ages in Australia.
Vaccination providers should record all vaccines given to patients on the AIR − including children, adolescent and adult vaccines.
- Keeping up with vaccinations - What’s new, what’s available and who to ask for help (peer reviewed)
- Fact sheets and FAQs (NCIRS) on various diseases and vaccines such as HIB, Influenza, HPV, Meningococcal, Zoster, resources for adressing patient/parent concerns about immunisation and more
- NEW Measles vaccines for Australians (NCIRS)
- NEW Meningococcal vaccine 2019 recommendations by age and risk group - Australian Prescriber
- pdf Q Fever information for GP (468 KB) s
- pdf Rabies Vaccination and Post Exposure Protocol (141 KB)
- HPV fact sheet (NCIRS)
- HPV FAQs (NCIRS)
- Approach to influenza vaccination in patients with a history of Guillain–Barre Syndrome - AusVaxSafety
- pdf Following up overdue children (222 KB) - CESPHN guideline
Introduction for new staff
- Training tool for new staff: Introduction to Cold Chain Management
National requirements
- National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: ‘Strive for 5’, 3rd edition
Equipment
- Fridge: must be vaccine specific fridge - see examples of vaccine fridges
- Data logger: must record at 5 minute intervals - see examples of data loggers
- Min/max thermometer: in-built or portable min/max thermometer
Monitoring
- Twice daily: record min/max temperatures on temperature chart or temperature graph
- Weekly: download data logger report, record on temperature chart
- Annually: complete Vaccine storage self audit
NSW requirements
- Guidelines: Cold Chain Toolkit - NSW Health
- Checklist: Vaccine Storage Checklist - NSW Health
- Online module (compulsory): Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management - NSW Health / HETI
- Website: Vaccine storage and cold chain management - NSW Health
Cold Chain Breach (CCB)
Need to report a cold chain breach?
To report a breach, email your Public Health Unit (PHU):
- completed Cold Chain Breach and Vaccine Wastage Reporting Form (June 2020)
- data logger records
- min/max temperature records
Email for South Eastern Sydney PHU: SESLHD-PublicHealthUnit-IMMTeam@health.nsw.gov.au
Email for Sydney PHU: SLHD-Immunisation@health.nsw.gov.au
- Process:Steps to take in a Cold Chain Breach
- Poster:What is cold chain breach?
- Poster:CCB Flowchart
- Information sheet:Why report a CCB?
- Order stickers: CCB stickers
- Poster:"Isolated Vaccines" poster
- pdf Click here to download (1.41 MB) complete set of 'Cold chain breach' resources
Alternative vaccine storage - Power failure or fridge malfunction
- Checklist for Managing a Power Failure National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5', Appendix 9
- Temperature monitoring chart for esky/cooler - NSW Health
- Power Failure Action Plan - CESPHN Information Sheet
- Alternative Vaccine Storage Options in a Power Failure - CESPHN Information Sheet
- How to pack a cooler - NSW Health Strive for 5
- HLP MediTemp min/max thermometer - CESPHN user guide
- Annual maintenance of portable minimum/maximum thermometers - NSW Health Strive for 5
Data Loggers
- Data loggers on the market: What is a data logger? - CESPHN Information Sheet
- LogTag user guide: LogTag - how to download, analyse and configure
- pdf EliTech - How to download data (378 KB)
- pdf EliTech - How to configure (130 KB)
- pdf Tiny Tag - How to download data (181 KB)
- pdf Tiny Tag - How to interpret data (215 KB)
- pdf (215 KB) Guide on how to organise vaccine fridge
- Template: fridge map for solid door vaccine fridges
- Things to consider when Opening, closing, or moving practice
- How to check cold chain monitors when receiving vaccine deliveries
- Where to rent a fridge if required for flu vaccines
Cold Chain when Moving Premesis