Health care providers
State and Territory information:
This webpage provides details about the:
GP Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme
National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS)
Managing adverse reactions to vaccines
Schedule splitting and ‘catch-up’ doses
South Australian Immunisation Calculator
Vaccination and disease surveillance data
Vaccine preparation, administration, storage and handling
Please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC) for more technical information about vaccines and diseases.
A list of downloadable resources about vaccines and vaccination programs funded under the Immunise Australia Program is available under Common questions and answers (fact sheets) for healthcare providers.
For information about Australia’s immunisation programs, including major policy and program initiatives see Immunisation programs & initiatives.
General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme
The General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme (Medicare Australia) aims to support general practitioners (GPs) to play a central role in preventive health care and increasing the percentage of children fully immunised.A departmental review of the GPII Scheme was undertaken in 2003 in consultation with the General Practice Immunisation Incentives Advisory Group. For recommendations and findings refer to Summary Report - Review of the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme: January 2004 (PDF 74 KB) and Review of the General Practice Immunisation Incentives (GPII) Scheme: January 2004 (PDF 469 KB).
National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS)
Formerly known as the National Immunisation Program Summary Card, the National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS) was implemented on 1 November 2005. It lists all the diseases against which vaccine is provided free by the Government, and the ages at which they are given.More information:
National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule
Updated: November 2005
Managing adverse reactions to vaccines
Vaccines are extensively tested for safety and efficacy before being made available by suppliers. Nevertheless, careful surveillance must be maintained to improve knowledge about adverse reactions. To report any serious or unexpected reactions refer to Reporting problems with medicines (Therapeutic Goods Administration).People who have experienced a serious adverse event following vaccination can be referred to State and Territory health services, which have been set up for managing serious adverse reactions to vaccines.
Schedule splitting and catch-up doses
Schedule splitting
Schedule splitting, where one or more vaccines are not administered at the age schedule point as recommended, is not encouraged in Australia.Research shows vaccines that have been delayed due to schedule splitting do not achieve as high coverage as vaccines administered at the appropriate age point. For example, meningococcal C vaccine due at 12 months of age.
Vaccines that have been scheduled to be given at the same age schedule point have been demonstrated to be safe and effective when given at the same visit.
Catch-up doses
Some children may miss doses of routine childhood vaccines. For technical information please refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).South Australian Immunisation Calculator
Developed by the South Australian Government, SA Immunisation Calculator is a national resource for health care providers to work out an appropriate catch-up schedule for Australian children up to their 7th birthday, according to the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule.Using a child's immunisation history record to enter required information, the Calculator generates a 'catch-up' vaccination schedule appropriate for the state or territory of residence of the child.
Vaccination and disease surveillance data
The Department of Health and Ageing, Medicare Australia and the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) collate information about Vaccination coverage surveillance data and Vaccine preventable disease surveillance data, including historical trends.Communicable Diseases Australia (Department of Health and Ageing) provides surveillance of notifiable communicable diseases. Data can be accessed via the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) (Department of Health and Ageing).
More information about monitoring notifiable diseases can be found at Surveillance systems for communicable diseases in Australia (Department of Health and Ageing).
Vaccine preparation, administration, storage and handling
Only persons suitably trained and qualified are permitted to administer vaccines.Vaccines that are transported, stored, prepared and administered safely will minimise harm to individuals, health care professionals and the community.
It is important to ensure vaccines are prepared according to manufacturers’ instructions. Providers should be vigilant in correctly preparing vaccines that require reconstitution prior to administration.
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services publication Guidelines for immunisation practice in local governments provides best practice information about preparing and administering vaccines.
This World Health Organization publication provides information about vaccine safety - Immunization in practice: A practical resource guide for health workers.
National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5
Abstract: Document outlining the basic principles for safe vaccine management. A concise, practical, user-friendly guide to vaccine storage, it is aimed at Australian vaccination service providers.
Updated: November 2005
The material resulting from the National Vaccine Storage Management Workshop held in Brisbane in 2004 is published in the Proceedings of the National Vaccine Storage Workshop (PDF 1171 KB).
Storage and handling considerations:
- The technology for vaccine storage is changing rapidly. If you are purchasing equipment it is recommended that you thoroughly investigate the item. The material in Strive for 5 may help you with your investigations. For further information contact your State or Territory Health Department.
- Due to the Australian context and an evolution in technology, knowledge and vaccines, there are differences between the National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5 and the World Health Organization’s documents and the Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition 2008 (NHMRC).
Page last modified: 20 May, 2008