Immunisation

Population Health, including immunisation, is a key priority area of SEMPHN. The following is a quick-reference guide for GPs and Practice Nurses on frequently-used immunisation topics, guidelines, tips and support.

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Phone support

AIR (Australian Immunisation Register)

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia.

Recording information on the AIR is important because it can be used to:

• determine a person’s immunisation status, regardless of who immunised them
• determine a person’s eligibility for some family assistance payments
• provide an Immunisation History Statement so people can prove their immunisation status for child care, school, employment or travel purposes
• monitor immunisation coverage levels and service delivery, which can help to identify regions at risk during disease outbreaks
• measure vaccination coverage at a local, state and national level

Ph: 1800 653 809 for AIR general enquiries

Ph: 1300 650 039 for AIR internet helpdesk

Immunisation Unit, Department of Health & Human Services, Victorian Government

Ph: 1300 882 008 hours: 9am-12pm and 2-3pm Monday-Friday. 

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National Immunisation Information Line

Ph: 1800 671 811 Opening hours: 8.30am-5pm

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Quick-links – resources and tools

• The Australian Immunisation Handbook - provides clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals and is continually updated. 
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) – offers a range of resources including factsheets and regular webinars. The NCIRS developed Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation (SKAI), a set of online vaccination communication support tools.
• AusVaxSafety- provides active vaccine safety surveillance and information on vaccine safety for specific population groups.
• Australian Immunisation Register eLearning modules - assist  vaccination providers to understand how to access and use AIR, and manually record vaccination encounters.
• The Department of Health Immunisation website includes the Questions about vaccination booklet for parents. There are also short vides, in-depth articles and links to other supporting resources. 
• The Immunisation Coalition- is a not for profit organisation that provides the PneumoSmart calculator, fact sheets and webinars.
• The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre- is based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and can alert clinicians to schedule updates and new guidelines.
• Australian Immunisation Handbook catch up resources- catch up information is continually reviewed, and it is useful to check this resource regularly.
• The Immunisation Calculator for children up to 10 years of age is based on the Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) for all Australian children prior to their 10th birthday. If vaccine doses are delayed or missed, the calculator can provide a catch-up schedule.
• Immunisation schedule Victoria 
• Victorian immunisation catch-up guidelines for 10 years or older
• No Jab, No Pay – New immunisation requirements for Family Assistance Payments
• No Jab, No Play – Information for Immunisation Providers
• Victorian Government immunisation resources - includes information on vaccine orders and stock, adverse events reporting, provider information, vaccination resource ordering and more.
• Cold chain management
• Pharmacist administered vaccination program

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Seasonal influenza

Annual vaccination is the most important measure to prevent influenza and its complications. Advice for immunisation providers about the administration of seasonal influenza vaccines can be found here.

2019 influenza vaccines

Free influenza vaccinations are available for the following at-risk groups:

• Pregnant women (during any stage of pregnancy)
• All Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons from 6 months of age
• All adults aged ≥65 years
• All persons aged ≥6 months who have a medical condition which increases the risk of influenza complications
• Children 6 months to less than 5 years – Victorian state funded program

Influenza vaccination is also strongly recommended, but not funded, for other groups who are at increased risk of influenza and its complications.

More information

• Influenza Specialist Group Publications
• Flu stakeholder toolkit 

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Adverse events reporting

For all adverse events reporting, contact Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community (SAEFVIC)

SAEFVIC Immunisation Hotline:

Ph: 1300 882 924 (choose option 1)

Staff attend the line between 9am and 4pm. You can leave a message at other times.

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Catch-up vaccination for migrants to Australia, including refugees and asylum seekers

People who arrive in Australia as a refugee or asylum seeker are not likely to be fully vaccinated. This is due to differences between the Australian immunisation schedule and country of origin schedules. People who are refugees and asylum seekers can be vaccinated so they are up-to-date with the Australian immunisation schedule.

Since 1 July 2017, refugees and other humanitarian entrants have been eligible for free catch-up vaccines on an ongoing basis through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Find more information here.

More information

• Information sheet for case workers and others working with families from refugee backgrounds, to support them to meet Australian immunisation requirements.
• Royal Children’s Hospital Immigrant Health Service – catch-up-immunisation in refugees
• Vaccination for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum.
  

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Catch-up immunisation fact-sheets in languages other than English

• English
• Amharic
• Arabic
• Assyrian
• Burmese
• Chin
• Dari
• Farsi
• Karen
• Tamil

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Hepatitis B vaccination

The following resources have information on Hepatitis B and immunisation, including at-risk groups. Note, on the government ordering form there is an additional risk section to order hepatitis B vaccine for at risk groups.

• Australian Immunisation Handbook – Hepatitis B
• Free Hepatitis B vaccines
• Hepatitis B immunisation
• Refugee Health Factsheet: Hepatitis B screening

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Pregnancy

• Immunisation for pregnancy 
• NCIRS fact sheet on vaccinations during pregnancy 
• Pregnant women and their partners - free whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine

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MSM & PWID vaccination programs

• In Victoria, free hepatitis B vaccine is provided for men who have sex with men (MSM), people living with HIV and people who inject drugs (PWID).
• All MSM, people living with HIV and people who inject drugs can access the vaccine through GP clinics and other registered immunisation providers in Victoria, including sexual health clinics.
• Important health information for men who have sex with men: a guide for health professionals and immunisation providers - factsheet
• Important health information for people who inject drugs: a guide for health professionals and immunisation providers

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Zostavax

A single dose of shingles vaccine is recommended and funded for adults at 70 years of age. Adults 71-79 years of age are also eligible under a five-year catch up program until 31 October 2021.

Zostavax® contains live attenuated varicella-zoster virus and is contraindicated in immunocompromised people. Use the Zostavax – GP Decision Aid to identify patients who may be contra-indicated for the vaccine.

Find more information here.

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Gardasil®9

The Australian Government Department of Health has a range of human papillomavirus educational and vaccine related resources developed for health care providers, parents and students. The resources include videos, a personal story, brochure and fact sheets.

Clinical advice for GPs on Gardasil®9 can be found here 

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Keep an eye on the SEMPHN events calendar for immunisation events, and subscribe to the SEMPHN's Network News for other updates.

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Associated tags

• general practice
• health professionals
• immunisation