Immunisation Information for Health Professionals

• Australian Immunisation Handbook

• Information on COVID-19 vaccination

• Information on Influenza vaccination

• Information on Japanese Encephalitis vaccination

• Information on Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination

• Information on Mpox vaccination

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

  • ATAGI Advice 

  • NSW Health Alert  

• NSW Health NIP Immunisation Schedule (A4) 

• NSW Health NIP Childhood Immunisation (Poster) 

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

  • NSW RSV Prevention Program

  • 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 cold chain breach online 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). 

• 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)

• NSW Health Pharmacists

• NSW Health Pharmacist initiation and administration of vaccines

• NSW Health Pharmacist apply for VAN

• NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards

• CESPHN Pharmacists Immunisation 

• Australian Government Launch of the National Immunisation Program vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program

• Australian Department of Health Responsibilities for Residential Aged Care Providers
• Ordering vaccines
• Respiratory infection advice to residential aged care homes

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 Australian Government 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:

• Australian Government 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:

• Questions and answers about vaccination requirements for child care, primary and secondary schools
• Strengthening vaccination requirements for child care and schools

• Immunisation Programs (NSW Health)
• Vaccination Programs (SESLHD)
• NSW School Vaccination Program

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
• Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres & Providers Update

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

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

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 Australian Government 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.