Immunisation Information for Health Professionals

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

Information on COVID-19 and vaccination can be found here: - added links below 

• NSW Health 
• Commonwealth Health 
• NCIRS 
• Health Direct 

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  

NIP Immunisation Schedule from 1 July 2020: 

• Commonwealth Department of Health Guidelines 
• NSW Health NIP Changes 1 July 2020 
• NSW Health NIP Immunisation Schedule (A4) 
• NSW Health NIP Childhood Immunisation (Poster) 
• NSW Health NIP FAQ General 
• NSW Health NIP FAQ Health Professionals

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

It is very important to follow the below steps after you have discovered the CCB:

1. Follow the Managing a Cold Chain Breach guidelines in this link.
2. Please tape the fridge shut and put a sign on the fridge door- “DO NOT USE” and inform all GPs, PN's and PM's that the National Immunisation Program (NIP- i.e. free Government vaccines) cannot be used until further advice from this office. Do not discard any NIP vaccines until receiving advice from the PHU. 
3. Download the data logger and thoroughly check the 5 minutely data (the numbers as well as the graph). Calculate how long the fridge temperature was above 8 degrees and/or below 2 degrees, including what the minimum and maximum temperatures were.  
4. Save as PDF and attach it to the return email to PHU.  We need to see the fridge temperatures before, during and after the CCB, including how high/low the temps went during the CCB.   
5. Attach to the email the twice daily min/max thermometer recordings for the previous and present months. 
6. Fill out the Reporting Form in this link, answering all areas.  Ensure you fill out the Reporting Form online, save it to your computer and then attach it to an email back to this address SESLHD-PublicHealthUnit-IMMTeam@health.nsw.gov.au.  
7. Do not use the NIP vaccines or the vaccine fridge AND do not discard any NIP vaccines until further instructions from the PHU. 
8. The PHU does not have any jurisdiction over privately bought vaccines.  Please ring the manufacturer regarding further use of these vaccines after a CCB. 
9. If anyone is vaccinated with compromised vaccines, please request a Revaccination Advice Spreadsheet from the Public Health Unit 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). 
10. If a cooler is used to store vaccines during a cold chain breach, please use this vaccine cooler temperature chart to monitor the temperatures while vaccines are in the cooler.  

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 in 2022 in the Ordering of Vaccines section below.

In 2022, free seasonal influenza vaccine is funded for the following groups at higher risk of complications from influenza: Seasonal influenza vaccination 2022

• 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, namely:
  • cardiac disease, including cyanotic congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure
  • chronic respiratory conditions, including suppurative lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe asthma (including those who have had an admission for asthma in the past year)
  • other chronic illnesses requiring regular medical follow up or hospitalisation in the previous year, including diabetes mellitus, chronic metabolic diseases, chronic renal failure, and haemoglobinopathies
  • chronic neurological conditions that impact on respiratory function, including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and seizure disorders
  • impaired immunity, including HIV, malignancy and chronic steroid use
  • children aged 6 months to 10 years on long term aspirin therapy
  • obesity where BMI>30

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

Individuals aged 10 to 19 years are eligible to receive free catch-up vaccinations through the National Immunisation Program. They must commence the catch-up schedule before their 20^th birthday to be eligible. Refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over are also eligible for a number of free catch-up vaccinations.

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

• Additional Commonwealth and NSW-funded free vaccines
• Catch-up immunisations
• Free catch-up vaccines for 10 to 19 year olds factsheet
• Free catch-up vaccines for refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over factsheet
• 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.pdf. Frequently asked questions, NSW Health Category A High Risk 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.

NSW Immunisation Program vaccines can be ordered through the NSW Vaccine Centre via the online vaccine ordering system. 

Changes to the ordering of funded influenza vaccines in 2022

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

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 request to set up a vaccine account, 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
• 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)
• National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) factsheets
• NSW Immunisation Schedule
• The SKAI project: Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation
• Catch-up vaccination
• NCIRS Immunisation Schedule
• NSW Health School Immunisation Program 2022

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