Immunisation provider information and resources

Vaccine Updates gives immunisation providers important information, news and changes to immunisation programs and vaccines in Western Australia.

It is important that immunisation providers subscribe to Vaccine updates (external site) to keep up-to-date.

See recent editions of Vaccine Updates below:

• Vaccine Update 512 - Confirmed cases of measles (PDF 111KB)
• Vaccine Update 511 - Have your say: draft standards for the accreditation of immunisation education programs, Whooping Cough Day (PDF 248KB)
• Vaccine Update 510 - EOI accredited immunisation course, immunisation education, and new research highlights importance of trusted immunisation information (PDF 158KB)
• Vaccine Update 509 - ATAGI approved the use of dengue vaccine Qdenga for Australians, COVID-19 vaccines, and AIH update (PDF 183KB)
• Vaccine Update 508 - COVID-19 vaccine transition to NIP, adolescent immunisation reminder, JEV vaccine eligibility changes and 2026 RSV Beyfortus Program ended (PDF 208KB)
• Vaccine Update 507- COVID-19 vaccine transition to the NIP, COVID-19 ordering, Diphtheria Vaccination reminder, PRIORIX-TETRE and VARILRIX safety (PDF 183KB)
• Vaccine Update 506 - Sanofi Act- HIB vaccine product presentation change, webinar on COVID-19 vaccine transition to the National Immunisation Program (PDF 177KB)
• Vaccine Update 505 - Diphtheria outbreak response: expanded access to dTpa boosters and Public Health Update Inoculate Accolade Award Nominations 16.09.2026 (PDF 213KB)
• Vaccine Update 504 - WA Immunisation eLearning module RACGP accredited, COVID-19 transition resources for health professionals, Webinar on COVID-19 vaccine transition to NIP (PDF 158KB)
• Vaccine Update 504 - WA Immunisation eLearning module RACGP accredited, COVID-19 transition resources for health professionals, Webinar on COVID-19 vaccine transition to NIP (PDF 158KB)
• Vaccine Update 503 - Inoculate Accolade award nominations open and ‘Diseases we vaccinate against’ video series (PDF 165KB)
• Vaccine Update 502 - webinar on COVID-19 vaccine transition to the National Immunisation Program, maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccine reduces infant hospitalisations, Beyfortus doses expiring (PDF 180KB)
• Vaccine Update 501 - Expansion of Vaccine Advocacy Knowledge and Support through Collaboration (VAKS-CO), Capvaxive® supply update (PDF 185KB)
• Vaccine Update 500 - Recent history of vaccine policies and programs in Western Australia (PDF 298KB)
• Vaccine Update 499 - 2026 WA Influenza Nasal Spray Program concluding Friday, Free Influenza Program concluded, EOI HESA accredited immunisation course (PDF 199KB)
• Vaccine Update 498 - COVID-19 vaccine transition, needle anxiety resources and World Hepatitis Day (PDF 176KB)
• Vaccine Update 497 - Free Influenza vaccine program and HPV catch up reminder (PDF 190KB)
• Vaccine Update 496 - RSV vaccination, diphtheria outbreak, FluMist expiry, vaccine safety in twin pregnancies, new translated childhood immunisation resources, SBIP SMS reminders, aged care webinar recording available (PDF 188KB)  
• Vaccine Update 495 - Updated immunisation schedules, updated campaign resources, Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) enhancements, administration errors,upcoming change to the Act-HIB vaccine presentation, new national immunisation dashboards (PDF 313 KB)
• Vaccine Update 494 - FluMist® eligibility expanded, FluMist® resource – porcine gelatine (PDF 183KB)
• Vaccine Update 493 - Free flu extended, JEV program expanded eligibility, medical exemption forms, NIP spleen vaccines, AIH updates (PDF 198KB)

The WA Immunisation Schedules list routine immunisations recommended to be administered at specific times through life. The eligible and/or at-risk cohorts receive free vaccines at the scheduled times. Please see Immunisation schedule and catch-up immunisations for more information such as vaccine eligibility criteria and vaccination programs in WA.

Authority to administer vaccines

Vaccines are prescription only (Schedule 4) medicines. In order to administer vaccines in WA, authorised immunisation providers are responsible for adhering to professional standards, maintaining personal competence and ensuring patient safety.

The Medicines and Poisons Regulation 2016 (external site) provides guidance about the authority to administer of a vaccine.

Immunisation education requirements

Providers working under a Chief Executive Officer of Health (Department of Health) Structured Administrations and Supply Arrangements (SASAs) are expected to have completed immunisation training and other requirements as outlined in the conditions to the SASA. For more information about education requirements and for links to immunisation events and recordings, please visit Immunisation education.

Consent and other requirements

Please review the conditions in the relevant SASA to assess if you need to meet any additional requirements to safely and successfully practice in Western Australia.

Other routine conditions for all providers working under these Arrangements include:

• compliance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook
• ensuring cold chain of vaccines is maintained
• obtaining informed consent for patients and follow procedures in the Australian Immunisation Handbook
• keeping clinical records of all vaccines administered and reporting to Australian Immunisation Register
• reporting all adverse events.

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a whole of life, national immunisation register, which captures vaccines given to all people in Australia. It is mandatory for all immunisation providers to report all National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines administered. Mandatory reporting also includes influenza and COVID-19 vaccines administered.

Immunisation providers who receive and administer other government-funded or private vaccines, should report vaccines administered to ensure individuals have completeness through their AIR immunisation history statement (external site) and their health can be managed effectively. 

A fact sheet outlining mandatory reporting obligations and helpful tips is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website (external site).

New immunisation providers must register on the AIR by completing the application to register form (external site) and email to immunisation@health.wa.gov.au for WA Department of Health approval. The application is then sent to Services Australia (external site), and a copy is sent to the applicant. For more information on how to register as a vaccination provider and set up access to the AIR visit Australian Immunisation Register for health professionals - Services Australia (external site).

See here (PDF 828KB) for detailed guidance on how to report to the AIR via PRODA.

Immunisation providers are responsible for ensuring vaccines received and stored at their premises, are managed by staff educated in cold chain management who follow the National vaccine storage guidelines: Strive for 5 (external site). All staff members at immunisation sites are required to complete the Department of Health eLearning Cold Chain Management training module and to subscribe to Vaccine Updates (external site).

Please visit vaccine ordering for related information.

An adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) is an unwanted or unexpected event following the administration of a vaccine.

An AEFI may be due to:

• a person’s response to a vaccine component or the vaccination procedure, or
• coincidence, i.e., it would have occurred regardless of vaccination, or
• incorrect handling or administration of a vaccine.

Reporting of AEFIs to the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system is a condition Structured Administrations and Supply Arrangements (SASAs) that provide the authority for immunisation providers to safely administer vaccinations in Western Australia.

Immunisation providers who become aware of an AEFI should use the SAFEVAC Reporting (external site) to notify the WAVSS.

Please visit AEFI for further information about AEFI reporting and surveillance.

Useful information following immunisation is a resource designed specifically to guide providers on how to discuss potential vaccine side effects with their patients, and how common reactions are managed. For vaccine-specific reminders, visit ‘Reminders when using the Schedules’ on Immunisation Schedule and catch-up vaccines.

See pharmacist immunisation in Western Australia for resources to assist Pharmacists distributing private vaccines.

Ordering WA Department of Health publications

A wide range of brochures, posters, and factsheet publications are available to support immunisation at your premises. To order, visit the publication ordering system (external site) or see instructions on how to place an order (PDF 768KB). Note, publications ordering is a different system to vaccine ordering. For publication supply queries, email publicationordering@health.wa.gov.au.

Further resources

• The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) (external site) provides annualised data for all children fully immunised in WA (external site). Publications, guidelines, forms and access to the register are also available from this site.
• The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (external site) provides information and resources on vaccine preventable diseases including:
  • influenza immunisation coverage data (external site) and
  • Recommended sites for childhood vaccination – This poster details the appropriate site and route of vaccine administration for infants and children. It also contains needle size recommendations, a checklist for preparing for vaccination and additional clinical advice.
• HealthyWA (external site) offers consumer friendly fact sheets about vaccination.
• The Australian Government Department of Health (external site) has a number of resources for health care professionals on various immunisation and vaccination-related topics.
• The Therapeutic Goods Administration (external site) holds product information on all available vaccines and health professionals can also sign up to their regular email product updates and alerts (external site).
• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) (external site) hosts resources for immunisation conversations.

Vaccine misinformation can spread quickly, reducing confidence in immunisation programs. Immunisation providers play a critical role in maintaining community confidence. A provider recommendation remains the strongest influence on vaccine decision‑making. Evidence‑based communication strategies and tools are available to support providers in responding to misinformation and guiding conversations with patients and families.

The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) (external site) resources provide practical, structured guidance to support effective vaccine conversations in clinical settings. The SKAI Quick Guide (external site) offers a concise, visual reference on how to address vaccine misinformation in a clinical setting.

The Immunisation Coalition (external site) also has a comprehensive range of communication tools and messaging support for healthcare professionals.

Specialist immunisation referral services

Many instances of vaccine hesitancy can be appropriately managed in the primary care setting. This may require extended or multiple appointments to allow caregivers time to express their concerns and have them addressed. For some families who remain open to discussions about vaccination but have reached the limits of what can be supported in the primary care setting, Perth Children’s Hospital (external site) provides specialist immunisation referral services.

Vaccine exemptions

Vaccine exemptions can only be registered for individuals with an immunisation medical contraindication (for example, anaphylaxis to a vaccine or vaccine component) or natural immunity. Visit Services Australia (external site) for instructions on how to register vaccine exemptions on an individual’s AIR record.