Immunisation Resources
NSW Health have developed this Toolkit to support general practices
Download the new Immunisation Toolkit for General Practices. This Toolkit was developed to support general practices to implement the NSW Immunisation Program.
Immunisation Schedule
Funded vaccines
- NSW Immunisation Schedule July 2020
- Catch up vaccines for 10 to 19 years
- Catch-up vaccines for 20 years and over (for refugees and humanitarian entrants)
- Additional vaccines provided free in NSW
- Poster: A3 NSW Childhood Immunisation Schedule
- Poster: pdf Recommended sites for childhood vaccination in NSW (461 KB)
Recommended vaccines
- Recommended vaccines (including non-funded): For non-Indigenous Australians - NCIRS
- Recommended vaccines (including non-funded): For Indigenous Australians - NCIRS
- Recommended vaccines in Pregnancy: Influenza and pertussis vaccination in pregnancy - Clinical Advice
Vaccine Safety and Adverse Events
- Download: AEFI reporting form (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) - TGA
- Order: Following vaccination - what to expect tear-off pad
- 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
- Vaccine safety data - AusVaxSafety
- Vaccine safety summary report 2018 - AusVaxSafety
Clinical tools
- Catch-up Calculator (for children under 10 years) - Australian Immunisation Handbook
- Zostavax Screening Tool - NSW Health
- Pneumococcal Vaccination Tool - Immunisation Coalition
- Meningococcal vaccination by age and risk group - Australian Prescriber
National Immunisation Program - 1 July 2020 Changes
New NIP schedules
- Download new NSW Immunisation Schedule July 2020
- Download July 2020 A3 Poster NSW Childhood Immunisation Schedule
- Download new NIP schedule card - For all non-Indegenous people
- Download new NIP schedule card - For all Indigenous people
Webinar
- Watch now: NIP changes: what you need to know - NCIRS
Meningococcal changes
- Meningococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020
- ATAGI clinical advice on meningococcal vaccination schedule changes - 1 July 2020
- Order brochure - Vaccinate to protect your baby against meningococcal B – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Order poster - Meningococcal B vaccine – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Pneumococcal changes
- NIP clinical advice: Pneumococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020
- NIP clinical advice: Clinical decision tree for vaccination providers - NIP eligibility of pneumococcal vaccine
- ATAGI Clinical Advice on pneumococcal vaccination schedule changes - 1 July 2020
Information on the schedule changes
- National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule changes from 1 July 2020: Advice for vaccination providers - Department of Health
- ATAGI Clinical advice on vaccine recommenations for older non-Indigenous adults from 1 July 2020
- ATAGI Clinical advice on vaccination recommendations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 1 July 2020
- ATAGI clinical advice on vaccination recommendations for people with risk conditions from 1 July 2020
Immunisation Handbook
- Australian Immunisation Handbook: digital online version
- Australian Immunisation Handbook: mobile app
- Poster: Vaccination for health ageing
- Questions about vaccination
Vaccine Information Sheet
- Vaccines from community pharmacy – at a glance - NCIRS (April 2020)
- 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
Authorised Nurse Immuniser
Accredited training course
- Immunisation Accreditation Program for Registered Nurses - Australian College of Nursing
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.
NSW Policy
- Authority for registered nurses and midwives - NSW Ministry of Health
CPD - Continuing Professional Development
- Immunisation Education - webinars, online modules, and workshops
- CESPHN Events (offers CPR courses)
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.
Authorised Pharmacist Immuniser
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 Schedules
- 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
AIR - Australian Immunisation Register
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.
AIR user guides
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for individuals - Services Australia
- Accessing AIR using PRODA for organisations - Services Australia
Accessing the AIR
- Accessing the AIR using HPOS
- pdf How to apply for a medical practice provider number (263 KB) - Obtaining a practice login to AIR
- Application to register as a vaccination provider form (IM004) - You can apply as an individual or as an organisation
- Requesting AIR Secure Site Access
- Accessing AIR via Health Professionals Online Service (HPOS)
AIR data quality
PRODA and delegations to AIR
- pdf PRODA delegations for AIR access (822 KB) - CESPHN Information Sheet
- pdf How to register for a PRODA account to access AIR (1.05 MB) - CESPHN Information Sheet
- Education module: How to create and use a PRODA account
- pdf (1.05 MB) Website: Login to PRODA; or Register for PRODA
Using the AIR - learning tools
- pdf How to submit and update an encounter (982 KB)
- pdf (982 KB) Dose number errors in AIR
- Immunisation Enrolment Toolkit for Early Childhood Education and Care Services
- Using the Australian Immunisation Register - helpful resources and videos created by QLD Health
- AIR Online Education Modules
Overdue immunisation reports
- National due and overdue rules - Services Australia
- pdf How to request AIR 10A report (544 KB) (due/overdue practice report)
- pdf How to use AIR 10A report (411 KB) (due/overdue practice report)
- pdf Following up overdue children (202 KB)
Cold Chain Management
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