Immunisation resources

 

The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is a series of immunisations given at specific times from birth through to adulthood.

The Department of Health and Aged Care’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule webpage contains information on:

• the NIP Schedule
• catch-up immunisations
• State and territory immunisation schedules
• International immunisation schedules

You can subscribe to the program’s mailing list to receive all the latest updates.

State and territory health departments also fund some additional vaccines. Access further information on state and territory schedules via the appropriate link at the top of this page.
 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine available to pregnant women under the NIP in 2025

The Abrysvo® vaccine will be added to the NIP in 2025. It is recommended for women at 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect both the woman and newborn from RSV. More information will be available before the program start in 2025.

 

All vaccines administered to a patient should be recorded by the vaccine provider to the AIR, irrespective of whether they were administered as part of the NIP or privately.

It is now mandatory to upload a record of administration of the following vaccines to the AIR:

• COVID-19
• seasonal influenza
• vaccines given under the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
• Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)

Mandatory data elements when uploading a record include:

• relevant vaccines: COVID-19, influenza, NIP and JEV vaccines
• how to report: electronic, or if this is not reasonably practical then in written form
• when to report: within 24 hours, and no more than 10 working days after the vaccination
• personal information: Medicare number (if applicable), name, contact details, date of birth, gender
• vaccine information: brand name, dose number and batch number, date given, for COVID19 vaccines – vial serial number (if known)
• provider information: provider number, name and contact details.

The Department of Health and Aged Care’s Using the Australian Immunisation Register webpage contains information on:

• mandatory reporting to the AIR
• using the AIR to check a patient’s immunisation history
• identifying patients who are due/overdue a vaccine
• recording vaccine administration
• record accuracy
• vaccination information payments.

Update to COVID-19 vaccine names with the AIR

COVID-19 vaccine names will no longer display the manufacturer name within the AIR. For example, the ‘Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5’ vaccine will display as ‘Comirnaty XBB.1.5’. 
This simplifies the display of COVID-19 vaccines and aligns with how other vaccines are recorded in the AIR. 

The AIR vaccine codes for COVID-19 vaccines remain the same. Further information about AIR vaccine codes and vaccine brand names is available on the Services Australia website.

 

Introduction of an antenatal indicator within the AIR

From 8 December 2024, a new bespoke antenatal indictor will be added to the AIR. This will allow vaccination providers to report to the AIR if the person is pregnant at the time of vaccine administration.

The collection of antenatal data is important to ensure the AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of:

• immunisation coverage and administration; and

• the effectiveness and safety of maternal vaccines and vaccination programs.

In addition, changes will be made to the ‘vaccine type’ field to simplify the reporting options available. This includes removing the ‘Private’ and ‘State funded’ options and replacing with ‘Other’.

These enhancements will be implemented in a phased approach as per the below:

 

 

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides national clinical guidance on the safest and most effective use of vaccines.

The Handbook’s recommendations are developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation(ATAGI) and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council(NHMRC).

You can find the latest statements by ATAGI on immunisation on the Department of Health and Aged Care webpage.

 

There will be scenarios where it is not appropriate to administer a vaccine due to a valid medical reason – be it temporarily or long-term. In such cases the person will require an Immunisation Medical Exemption.

Eligible GPs can provide an Immunisation Medical Exemption using the AIR site using HPOS (you’ll need an individual PRODA account) or via vaccination reporting software. If you don't have access to either of these, you can record a medical exemption using the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) - immunisation medical exemption form (IM011).

Someone who is not able to receive a vaccine may require evidence, for example, to receive family assistance payments or be eligible to attend school or childcare. Having this recorded in AIR provides that evidence.

Resources for health professionals

• The Australian Immunisation Handbook
• ‘Strive for 5’ - National Vaccine Storage Guidelines
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) Australia
• Immunisation Coalition

Resources for patients

• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) – is an NCIRS-led collaboration which has developed evidence-based communication tools aimed at improving conversations between vaccination providers and parents of young children, those who are pregnant and families about vaccination.
• Australian Academy of Science – provides information that explains the science of immunisation in clear and easy-to-understand language, with the aim of supporting community members to make good health decisions based on science.

The RACGP provided representation on the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the National Vaccination Insights Study conducted by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS). 

Social science researchers from the project conducted two surveys:

• a nationally representative survey of 2,055 adults over 18 years of age to better understand what motivates them to receive the recommended influenza (flu) vaccine
• a nationally representative survey of 2,000 parents to understand the barriers to uptake of National Immunisation Program vaccines among children under 5 years of age.

Key findings are now available on the NCIRS website for both surveys. 

 

• Poster (A4) - Flu vaccine is now available
• Poster (A3) - Flu vaccine is now available
• Posters – Patient alert
• Ventilation and air-circulating strategies in general practice
• Managing pandemics in general practice
• Guidelines for preventative activities in general practice (Red Book) - Immunisation