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.

Find out more about the Australian Immunisation Register on the Services Australia website.

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

State-funded Hepatitis B vaccine for high-risk groups

• Download information about state-funded Hepatitis B vaccine for high-risk groups in Tasmania.

Free measles catch-up vaccinations

Free measles catch-up vaccinations are now 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 on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.

How to report an adverse event following immunisation

You can report any adverse events following immunisation to our Communicable Disease Prevention Unit.

• Download the Adverse Event Following Immunisation Factsheet

Reporting by phone

To report an adverse event over the phone, discuss reporting, or seek advice regarding referral of patients requiring specialist follow-up, please call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738. Ask to speak to an Immunisation Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Reporting by email

To report an adverse event by email, please complete the Adverse Event Following Immunisation Reporting Form and email to [email protected].

• Download Adverse Event Following Immunisation Reporting Form

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 to receive immunisation related communications which could include newsletters, bulletins and vaccine recommendations/updates.

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.

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