Immunisation providers

The Australian Immunisation Handbook

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice on the safest and most effective use of vaccines. These recommendations are developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). You can access the national immunisation handbook on the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Handbook website

Australian Immunisation Register

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

The AIR includes vaccines given:

• under the National Immunisation Program
• through school programs
• privately, such as for flu or travel.

Information for health professionals about the Australian Immunisation Register (health.gov.au)

Consumer information on the Australian Immunisation Register (servicesaustralia.gov.au).

Nurse and midwife - immunisation guidelines and applications

To apply to become an Authorised Nurse Immuniser (ANI), as a registered nurse or a registered midwife in Tasmania and for ANI renewal information, please read the following guidelines:

• Authorised nurse immuniser application guidelines
• Tasmanian immunisation program guidelines for authorised nurse and midwife immunisers

The Tasmanian Poisons Regulations 2018 allow registered nurses and midwives who have met certain educational requirements, to administer vaccines independently of a medical practitioner.

The Immunisation Provider Portal provides two sections for:

• Authorised Immuniser - to apply to become an ANI or renew; and 
• Immunisation Program Provider - to apply to conduct an Immunisation Program in Tasmania

Apply via the Immunisation Provider Portal

Pharmacy – immunisation guidelines and applications

Regulations under the Tasmanian Poisons Act 1971 allow pharmaceutical chemists who have met certain educational requirements to administer vaccines independently of a medical practitioner.

The below application guidelines are effective from 3 January 2024.

• Download Tasmanian Authorised Pharmacist Immuniser Application Guidelines
• Read Tasmanian Pharmacist Immunisation Program Guidelines
• Pharmacy vaccination program changes - FAQs

Apply via the immunisation provider portal

• Apply for a pharmacist immunisation program in Tasmania
• Apply to become an authorised pharmacist immuniser in Tasmania

Training requirements

Approved pharmacist immuniser training – HESA accredited courses

Where to get more information

• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone: Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738

Tasmanian state immunisation programs

For information about all State funded vaccines go to Government funded vaccines and eligibility.

Free measles catch-up vaccinations

Free measles catch-up vaccinations are available for eligible Tasmanians from GPs and eligible pharmacies. 

• Tasmanians born during or after 1966 who have not received two measles-containing vaccinations, or had the measles infection, are eligible for a free vaccination.
• Infants aged six to 12 months travelling overseas to places where measles is circulating are also eligible.
• Most people born after 1994 are likely to have received two doses of measles-containing vaccines as a child under the National Immunisation Program
• Many people born between 1966 and 1994 will not have had measles or received two doses of a measles vaccine.
• Public Health experts advise people born before 1966 are likely to be immune following childhood infection.
• Encourage anyone unsure if they have been vaccinated to receive a booster dose of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

Find out more information about measles.

National immunisation program

Find out more about the National Immunisation Program (health.gov.au).

Adverse Events following Immunisation (AEFI), Vaccine Administration Errors (VAE) and how to report them

What is an Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI)?

Vaccines, like any medication or natural therapy, can have side effects.  An AEFI is an unwanted or unexpected event that follows immunisation.  

An AEFI may be:

• due to a person’s response to the vaccine or vaccination procedure
• due to the incorrect handling or administration of a vaccine
• coincidental (it would have occurred regardless of vaccination)

Severe side effects from vaccines are rare and common side effects are usually mild and short-lived. 

What is a Vaccine Administration Error (VAE)

VAEs can be an instance where a vaccine is given outside of clinical guidelines, is incorrectly stored or handled, or is administered incorrectly. VAEs can potentially result in an AEFI occurring and are preventable.

Examples of VAEs include administering:

• a vaccine compromised by a cold chain breach
• an expired vaccine 
• diluent only
• a vaccine that is contraindicated for an individual or given outside of the recommended age group

This includes the inadvertent administration of live attenuated (or other contraindicated) vaccines to pregnant or immunocompromised patients.

When to report?

You should report an AEFI if the reaction is worsening or does not fit the common reactions expected for that vaccine. All VAEs, regardless of whether an adverse event following immunisation has occurred, should also be reported to the Public Health Services Immunisation team.

Who can report?

Anyone can report an AEFI.

Health professionals are encouraged to report AEFIs and VAEs.

Members of the public can report directly to the Immunisation team in Public Health Services if they have experienced an AEFI or they can report on behalf of someone they care for. If you are a member of the public, we recommend that you see your regular GP or healthcare provider for a check-up of your symptoms, and they can assist you with reporting the adverse event.

• This is not an emergency service, if you require immediate medical attention, please call 000 or contact your usual medical professional.

Why should I report an AEFI or VAE?

Reporting an AEFI is an essential part of ensuring ongoing vaccine safety monitoring.

AEFIs are entered into the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting System (ADRS) and reviewed to identify possible safety signals or concerns. These may arise from individual reports or clusters of reports. 

Providing timely and relevant information assists in:

• identifying or better understanding the safety issues relating to newly introduced vaccines 
• monitoring AEFI rates and trends across Australia
• identifying problems with the manufacture, storage, delivery, or administration of vaccines
• follow-up of people who have experienced serious adverse events
• assessing the safety of future vaccines and the setting in which they are given

Reporting VAEs assists with:

• identifying issues with vaccine packaging and ease of use 
• timely re-vaccination advice for invalid doses
• review of immunisation processes 
• identifying common themes, and 
• determining immunisation provider support that may be required

How do I report an AEFI?

AEFI and VAE reports for all immunisation products should be made directly to the Public Health Services Immunisation team in Tasmania. This enables timely local advice and support for providers and the consumer and early investigation of potential safety issues. We can provide general advice and information, as well as advice regarding referral of patients requiring specialist follow-up if needed.

The Tasmanian Department of Health then notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) who collate all AEFI reports in Australia to enable national vaccine safety surveillance.

To report an AEFI or VAE, call the Immunisation team in Public Health Services via the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 (choose option 4) or download the Adverse Event Following Immunisation form and factsheet and email to [email protected] 

For further information see 

Reporting and managing adverse vaccination events | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Resources

Table: Common side effects following immunisation for vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program schedule | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au)

Following vaccination – what to expect and what to do | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

What about side-effects? | Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation | SKAI

After your visit | Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation | SKAI

Ordering and discarding vaccines

• Download information about vaccine management
• Download Discarded Vaccine Report Form
• Download Web-based Ordering Change of Details Form

Medical exemption for a vaccine

If an individual has a medical exemption for a vaccine, then their eligible health professional must complete an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) - immunisation medical exemption form (IM011).

• Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) - immunisation medical exemption form (IM011)
• Who can grant a medical exemption

Immunisation communications subscription

The Immunisation team have a subscription service for health professionals. Select subscribe now to receive immunisation related communications including newsletters, bulletins and vaccine recommendations or updates.

Subscribe now

Cold Chain Management and reporting a Cold Chain Breach

What is Cold Chain, and why is it Important?

The cold chain is a system of transporting and storing vaccines within the safe temperature range of +2°C to +8°C. The cold chain begins from the time the vaccine is manufactured and continues through to the vaccine distribution centre and immunisation service provider. Failure to store and handle vaccines properly can reduce vaccine potency, resulting in inadequate immune responses in clients and poor protection against disease. The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: ‘Strive for 5’ provide best practice guidelines for storing vaccines and managing cold chain. 

Safe vaccine storage principles

• Vaccines must be stored in a monitored purpose-built vaccine refrigerator. Domestic fridges and bar fridges are not suitable and MUST NOT be used for vaccine storage.
• Current, minimum and maximum temperatures MUST be manually recorded twice daily, when the practice is open. The thermometer must be reset each time after temperatures are recorded.
• Vaccine fridge temperatures MUST be continuously monitored using a data logger or automated monitoring system.
• Data loggers MUST be set at 5-minute intervals. A data logger report MUST be downloaded and reviewed weekly and when a cold chain breach has been identified.
• Vaccines MUST be stored in their original packaging to protect them from light.
• A Vaccine Storage Self Audit should be carried out annually. See Appendix 2 of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ - Vaccine Storage Self Audit
• Purpose Built Vaccine Fridges must be serviced annually.
• An effective vaccine management protocol must be in place and will ensure that you are prepared before an emergency occurs. Ensure that the following are included in your protocol:
  • A trained, designated person responsible for vaccine storage and a back-up person for when required.
  • All relevant staff are trained to manage vaccine storage and cold chain effectively to ensure all cold chain issues are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
  • Contact names and numbers are readily available for reporting cold chain breaches.
  • Back-up vaccine storage options are documented and tested.
• See Appendix 8 of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ – Checklist: Mobile and emergency storage
• See Appendix 9 of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ – Checklist for Managing a Power Failure 

What is a Cold Chain Breach?

• A ‘cold chain breach’ occurs when vaccine storage temperatures deviate outside the recommended range of +2°C to +8°C. The optimal storage temperature for vaccines is +5°C.
• All vaccine temperatures recorded below +2°C or above +8°C must be reported to Public Health Services, Communicable Diseases Prevention Unit (CDPU), Immunisation Team on 1800 671 738 (choose the immunisation option).
• A breach does not include temperature deviations or excursions in which the temperature reaches a maximum of up to +12°C for 15 minutes or less. 

Managing and reporting a Cold Chain Breach 

• Immediately isolate vaccines and label them ‘Do not use’.
• Keep vaccines refrigerated between +2°C and + 8°C.
• Contact the CDPU Immunisation Team on 1800 671 738 (choose the immunisation option).
• Complete a Cold Chain Breach Report Form for Immunisation Providers and return to [email protected]. CDPU will review this form and will inform you of any further actions.
• Do not discard any vaccine until advised to do so by CDPU.
• Determine the cause of the breach and where possible, take steps to address this to reduce the risk of the event recurring.
• Cold chain breaches of COVID-19 vaccines should be reported to the Commonwealth Vaccine Operations Centre (VOC) on 1800 318 208. The VOC will provide advice on how cold chain breaches for COVID-19 vaccines must be managed.
• For any private vaccines, contact the manufacturer for cold chain advice.

Vaccine delivery failures

When National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccine orders arrive from a courier delivery, if the transport container does not contain a temperature indicator, or if the indicator suggests a cold chain breach:

• Take photos of the cold chain temperature indicator, delivery container, and docket.
• Transfer the vaccines to a monitored vaccine fridge and isolate, marking them as “Do not use”.
• Contact the CDPU Immunisation Team on 1800 671 738 (choose the immunisation option). 
• Do not use or discard the vaccines until you have received advice from CDPU.

Cold Chain Management education module

The immunisation team have developed an online cold chain training module.  This module is recommended for Authorised Immunisers (nurse and pharmacist), practice nurses, GP’s, hospital staff, councils and administrative staff who have responsibility for receiving vaccine deliveries and monitoring vaccine storage. 

The module takes approximately 45 minutes to complete after which you will receive a certificate for your records.

To access the training:

For Tasmanian Health Service (THS) or Tasmanian Department of Health employees 

Access Tasmanian Health Education Online (THEO) course: Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management

For Providers outside of the Department of Health

Access the module in Health Learning Online (HLO): Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management

Further useful resources for cold chain management:

• Strive for 5 Guidelines
• The Australian Immunisation Handbook - Effective cold chain: transporting, storing and handling vaccines 
• The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Storing, handling and administering vaccines
• The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care National vaccine storage guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ – Vaccine fridge temperature chart poster
• The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
  Cold Chain Breach checklist
  National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’, Appendix 2 - Vaccine Storage Self Audit
• National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’, Appendix 8 - Checklist: Mobile and emergency storage 
• National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’, Appendix 9 - Checklist for Managing a Power Failure