Immunisation Information for Health Professionals

Updated news and alerts about vaccination is available on the NSW Health website.

Information on COVID-19 and vaccination:

• NSW Health 

• Commonwealth Health 

• NCIRS 

• Health Direct 

Information on mpox can be found here. 

Information on Japanese encephalitis vaccination can be found here.

Information on IFNAR1 Deficiency and Serious Adverse Events Following MMR Immunisation: 

• ATAGI Advice 

• NSW Health Alert  

National Immunisation Pharmacist Program:

• NSW Health Pharmacists

• NSW Health Pharmacist initiation and administration of vaccines

• NSW Health Pharmacist apply for VAN

• NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards

• CESPHN Pharmacists Immunisation 

• Commonwealth Health Launch of the National Immunisation Program vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program

NIP Immunisation Schedule from October 2023: 

• Commonwealth Department of Health Guidelines 

• NSW Health NIP Immunisation Schedule (A4) 

• NSW Health NIP Childhood Immunisation (Poster) 

Information on pertussis can be found here:

• NCIRS Pertussis vaccines for Australians Fact Sheet

• Commonwealth Health (Australian Immunisation Handbook) - Pertussis (whooping cough)

Information on the NSW Health respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vulnerable babies program can be found here:

• NCIRS New RSV vaccine and antibody to prevent disease in infants

• NCIRS Respiratory  syncytial virus (RSV): frequently asked questions (FAQs including for older adults)

Following a cold chain breach:

1. Follow the Managing a Cold Chain Breach guidelines.
2. Tape fridge shut and place a sign on the fridge door - "DO NOT USE". You must inform all GPs, practice manager and practice nurses that NIP vaccines cannot be used until further advice from the public health unit (PHU). 
3. Do not discard any NIP vaccines until receiving advice from the PHU. 
4. Continue to monitor the temperature of the affected vaccines.  If a cooler is used to store vaccines during a cold chain breach, use the vaccine cooler temperature chart to monitor the temperatures while vaccines are in the cooler. 
5. Download the 5 minutely temperature records from the data logger. Check and review the data (the numbers as well as the graph).
6. Complete the reporting survey (Note: reporting form is now an online survey)
7. Save the data logger recordings as a PDF.  The document should be in table format with the temperature logged every 5 minutes.  The data logger recordings should cover the period 24 hours prior to, during, and after the cold chain breach. 
8. Attach data logger recordings and min/max recordings for the previous and present month in an email to SESLHD-PublicHealthUnit-IMMTeam@health.nsw.gov.au. 
9. The PHU does not have any jurisdiction over privately bought vaccines. Ring the manufacturer regarding further use of these vaccines after a CCB. 
10. All COVID vaccine excursions (cold chain breaches and administration errors) are to be referred to the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration System (CVAS): Email: COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@Health.gov.au or phone 1800 318 208 during the operating hours (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
11. If anyone is vaccinated with compromised vaccines, request a revaccination advice spreadsheet from the PHU, and complete, ensuring the name of the person is de-identified (i.e. only put in the first two letters of the first name and surname e.g. John Smith = Jo Sm). 

Additional Resources

• National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5' 
• NSW Health Cold Chain Toolkit for Immunisation Providers 
• Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management (Policy Directive for NSW Health Facilities)

The influenza vaccination is our best defence against influenza. It is recommended for everyone who is aged 6 months and over to reduce their risk of influenza. Australia's peak influenza season is between June and September. It is recommended for individuals to get the influenza vaccination between April and May, however it is never too late to vaccinate.

Please see changes to the ordering of funded influenza vaccines:

Free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza: Seasonal influenza vaccination 2024.

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 months and over

All children aged 6 months to less than 5 years of age (including Aboriginal and medically at risk)

Pregnant women (influenza vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)

People aged 65 years and over (a vaccine that is specifically designed to produce a higher immune response is available for this group)

All individuals aged 5 years and over with medical risk conditions

Please see the Australian Immunisation Handbook for list of NIP funded medically at risk influenza vaccines

The Influenza Vaccination Provider Toolkit

ATAGI advice on seasonal vaccines in 2024

Information on influenza vaccination for aged care facility workers can be found here: 

• Residential care facilities and influenza. 
• Commonwealth Health Responsibilities for Residential Aged Care Providers
• Ordering influenza vaccines for RACFs

Recent changes to the schedule for human papilloma virus vaccine (HPV) have extended eligibility for free catch-up vaccination to 26 years of age. Only one dose is required for protection against HPV.

Individuals aged 10 to 19 years are also eligible to receive free catch-up of other vaccinations through the National Immunisation Program (and up to 26 years of age for HPV). They must commence the catch-up schedule before their 20^th birthday to be eligible. Refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age, if they didn't receive them in their childhood, are also eligible for a number of free catch-up vaccinations. See below links to other vaccines funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

For more information on planning catch-up immunisations and who is eligible, visit:

• Additional Commonwealth and NSW-funded free vaccines
• Catch-up immunisations
• Australian Immunisation Handbook catch-up vaccinations
• Australian Immunisation Handbook Catch up Calculator

Information about vaccinations for workers in NSW Health facilities can be found in the Policy Directive for the Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Diseases. Frequently asked questions, NSW Health care worker position questions, and disease specific questions can be found on the NSW Health website.

Residential aged care facilities are strongly encouraged to have their staff vaccinated in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook guidelines.

Information about vaccination for aged care facility workers can be found here:

• Commonwealth Aged Care website 
• Residential care facilities and influenza.

Childcare facilities are strongly encouraged to have their staff vaccinated in accordance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook guidelines.

Information about vaccination for childcare facility workers can be found here:

• Vaccination for Early Childhood Centres  
• COVID-19 vaccination 

Information regarding the NSW School Vaccination Program and vaccines offered can be found here.

National Immunisation Program vaccines in Pharmacies  - National Immunisation Program vaccines can also be supplied and administered at pharmacies with trained immunisers, to adolescents who would be routinely offered vaccination in the NSW School Vaccination Program. 

Historical School Records

All records of vaccination provided in the NSW School Vaccination Program since 2014 have been uploaded onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). Some earlier records may also be available in the AIR. 

If you require patient vaccination records from the school program please first check the AIR. If you are unable to find records of vaccines administered prior to 2014 please contact us on 02 9382 8333 to speak to an immunisation nurse. 

Patients can access their own Immunisation History Statement through the AIR or following the Immunisation forms instructions here.

To order Free National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines you must have a Vaccine Account Number (VAN). Apply for a VAN @ NSW Vaccine Centre here. 

If you have a VAN and you want to order NIP influenza vaccines, see ordering of funded influenza vaccines

For all travel-related immunisation, you should contact a specialist travel vaccination centre and/or a general practitioner (GP). The Public Health Unit does not provide specific advice on immunisations required for overseas travel to particular countries or regions due to the specialised nature of the information required. Travellers requiring a Yellow Fever vaccination need to visit a medical centre approved by NSW Health. A list of approved Yellow Fever providers in New South Wales can be found on the NSW Health website.

For more information, visit:

• Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Smartraveller
• International Travel and Health - World Health Organisation (WHO)
• Australian Immunisation Handbook International Travel
• Australian Immunisation Handbook Yellow Fever
• NSW Health Yellow Fever website

If you want to become a yellow fever provider, please go to the below link for further information:

• NSW Health Yellow Fever Vaccinations
• Commonwealth Department of Health Training Guidelines
• Guidelines-Yellow-Fever-Vaccination-Centres.docx

To request a Yellow Fever accreditation, please email us with your contact details.

For information on MMR vaccinations please click here. 

To order Free National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines you must have a Vaccine Account Number (VAN). Apply for a VAN @ NSW Vaccine Centre here. 

Below are links to agencies and other organisations that contain useful information:

• NSW Health COVID-19
• Australian Government COVID-19
• Australian Government of Health and Aged Care
• Additional Commonwealth and NSW-funded free vaccines
• Australian Immunisation Handbook
• Australian Immunisation Register
• A-Z infectious diseases factsheets
• Catch-up immunisations
• Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) factsheets
• NSW Immunisation Schedule
• The SKAI project: Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation
• NCIRS Immunisation Schedule
• NSW Health School Immunisation Program

For enquiries about immunisation email us or phone (02) 9382 8333 during business hours.