Immunisation
Latest News and Support
Pre-vaccination Screening
Immunisation providers need to comprehensively screen everyone who wants to be vaccinated. Live parenteral vaccines can be given at the same time as another live parenteral vaccine, or they must be given at least four (4) weeks apart. Live vaccines must not be administered to patients who are pregnant or significantly immunocompromised. The following are listed as live vaccines under the Australian Immunisation Handbook:
For more information about vaccines, visit the Australian Immunisation website.
Annual PHN Immunisation Update 2023
The 2023 Annual Immunisation webinar held on Wednesday, 29 March 2023, is available below.
Childhood Immunisation Toolkit
We developed a user-friendly Childhood Immunisation toolkit for practices to identify 5-year-old patients that are overdue for their immunisations before school resumes. The toolkit was developed to help increase our region's childhood immunisation rates. Your General Practice Support Officer will be in contact to discuss and provide the toolkit.
Public Health Unit Out of Hours
For emergencies regarding public health assistance, please call Nepean Hospital on 4734 2000 and ask to speak to the Public Health On-call Officer.
Practice Software
PenCS has developed an immunisations guide to help reports, recipes and guides.
NSW Immunisation Schedule
NSW Health has the current schedule available on their website.
NSW Vaccine Centre Online Ordering System
All vaccines under the National Immunisation Program are ordered via Toll Healthcare at the NSW Vaccine Centre. The NSW Immunisation Unit has assembled a helpful Ordering vaccines resource. You can contact the NSW Vaccine centre on 1300 656 132.
National Immunisation Schedule
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule is a series of immunisations given at specific times throughout a person’s life. The immunisations range from birth through to adulthood. The Department of Health and Aged Care's website provides details of the NIP Schedule, catch-up immunisations, state and territory schedules, and international immunisation schedules.
The NIP also has a Following Vaccination – What to Expect and What to do Factsheet.This can be ordered as a tear-off A4 pad and provides easy-to-read information on common vaccine reactions.
Immunisation Questions Answered
The Department of Health and Aged Care have a page dedicated to answering questions people have about immunisations. On the About Immunisation page people can find information on how immunisations protects them and their family, and how to get started. This page may assist health professionals in breaking down immunisation information and initiating conversations with people who may be vaccine hesitant.
‘Save the Date to Vaccinate’ Campaign
It’s important to receive vaccinations – especially those for pregnancy and childhood – on time. NSW Health has more information on their website. Parents and carers are encouraged to download the Save the Date to Vaccinate app.
Resources on Other Vaccinations
Pneumococcal Immunisation
The Immunisation Coalition has developed the PneumoSmart Vaccination Tool based on the pneumococcal disease vaccination recommendations in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Shingles (herpes zoster) Immunisation
Meningococcal B Immunisation
NCIRS have assembled a visually engaging reference for healthcare providers to facilitate conversations about meningococcal B vaccination. The resource has a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
