1.5 Post-vaccination procedures

Please note: due to continuous updates being made to the Immunisation Handbook, the page number on the electronic version will not always match the hard copy version.


The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) is a national database for recording details of vaccinations given to children <7 years of age who live in Australia. It commenced on 1 January 1996 and is administered by Medicare Australia under the legislative mandate of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Act 1973 Part IVA. Section 46B of the Health Insurance Act specifies how the ACIR is to be implemented and managed. Section 46E sets out the provisions for giving both de-identified and identified information to recognised immunisation service providers and other specified agencies.

Children enrolled in Medicare are automatically included on the ACIR. Children not enrolled in Medicare will be included when an immunisation service provider sends details of a vaccination to the ACIR. No vaccination information is recorded on the ACIR after a child turns 7 years of age, but any information already held is retained. The information will relate only to vaccines received between the ages of birth and the 7th birthday. The ACIR Enquiry Line can be contacted on 1800 653 809 (free call) and any record held for an individual who is ≥7 years of age can also be made available to an immunisation service provider or parent/carer.

The ACIR provides an important means of accountability and evaluation of the childhood vaccination program. It is the primary means of determining vaccination coverage at national, State/Territory and local levels. It also provides a central vaccination history for each child that is accessible to any Australian immunisation service provider wishing to assess vaccination status. Since 1998, data held on the ACIR have been used to determine a family’s entitlement to the Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance family assistance payments. It is, therefore, important that vaccination data are submitted to the ACIR promptly.

Reporting to ACIR

Immunisation service providers should send to the ACIR details of all NIP and private vaccinations given to children <7 years of age. Vaccination details may be submitted by sending data electronically via Medicare Australia’s on-line claiming facility, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) on the Internet, or by using a paper form. Providers in Queensland and the Northern Territory currently sending data to the ACIR via their State/Territory Health Department should continue to do so. Providers in all other States/Territories should send data directly to the ACIR.

A child’s vaccination record can also be updated with vaccination details where the vaccination was performed by another immunisation service provider, including those given while the child was overseas, by completing and sending an Immunisation History form to Medicare Australia. Forms are available on the ACIR website at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/providers/forms/acir.htm.

When relevant, immunisation service providers should complete the Conscientious Objection and Medical Contraindication forms and forward to the ACIR.

For further information about the ACIR and reporting vaccination information, see ‘The ACIR Internet site’ below. In addition, assistance on any reporting issues can be obtained from the ACIR Enquiry Line, 1800 653 809 (free call).

Immunisation History Statement

Immunisation History Statements, which contain details of all vaccines administered to the child and recorded on the ACIR, and those that may be missing, are automatically generated when a child turns 12 months, 2 and 5 years of age and on completion of the childhood vaccination schedule. Statements will be mailed to the address most recently recorded on the ACIR for that child.

Parent/carers can also get a Statement at any other time:

• on-line at www.medicareaustralia.gov.au,
• from their local Medicare office,
• by calling 1800 653 809 (free call).

Immunisation History Statements can be used when proof of vaccination is needed. For example, Statements can be used to meet vaccination requirements for:

• primary school enrolment – a sentence will be displayed at the bottom of the statement that says the child has received all the vaccinations required by 5 years of age, and/or
• eligibility for the Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance; an up-to-date status for the Family Assistance Office will be displayed.

Recording details of a deceased child

The ACIR should be notified of a deceased child to prevent an Immunisation History Statement being sent to bereaved parents/carers. Advice of a child’s death can be provided by calling 1800 653 809 (free call), or by sending details on practice stationery. Details should include the child’s name, address, date of birth, Medicare number and date of death.

Children who have moved to live overseas

A child who has moved overseas can be removed from the ACIR by sending details to the ACIR by fax, phone or secure site email. This prevents the child’s name continuing to appear on ACIR reports of overdue children.

Ascertaining individual vaccination status

Parents/carers can telephone the ACIR on 1800 653 809 (free call) for information about their child’s vaccination status, regardless of where the child’s vaccination was given. Immunisation service providers can also request a child’s vaccination status by telephone.

Vaccination coverage and other reports

ACIR reports assess progress towards national targets, and help to identify areas with low vaccination levels and assist in planning vaccination programs.

Practices that are registered for the General Practice Immunisation Incentive (GPII) scheme can receive quarterly reports on vaccination coverage for children within that practice. Other reports, including those that identify a child’s vaccinations and due/overdue details, are available through the secure area of the ACIR Internet site to approved immunisation service providers.

The ACIR Internet site

The ACIR Internet site has 2 main parts, a general information area and a secure area. The Internet address for the ACIR is www.medicareaustralia.gov.au. Any person with Internet access may view the ACIR site for general vaccination information and statistics.

Approved immunisation service providers are able to access the secure area of the ACIR Internet site and obtain a range of statistical and identified reports. These reports are available, depending on the access level granted to the provider, and enable approved providers to view a child’s vaccination details, record vaccination information and access a range of other reports. To register for access
to the secure area of the ACIR Internet site, providers should complete the online request form at http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/providers/programs_services/acir/index.htm. Further information or assistance may be obtained by calling the ACIR Internet Helpline on 1300 650 039 (free call).

References

Full reference list available on the electronic Handbook or website
http://immunise.health.gov.au.