Approved client groups for vaccination by nurse immunisers are listed by vaccine-preventable disease (see Table 1).
Standard vaccination procedures must be followed according to the online edition of The Australian Immunisation Handbook.
| Vaccine-preventable disease | Approval for nurses to vaccinate with vaccine(s) against this disease includes | Approval for nurses to vaccinate with vaccine(s) against this disease excludes |
|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria |
|
|
| Haemophilus influenzae type b |
| |
| Hepatitis A |
|
|
| Hepatitis B |
|
|
| Human papillomavirus |
|
|
| Influenza |
|
|
| Measles |
|
|
| Meningococcal infections |
|
|
| Mumps |
|
|
| Pertussis |
|
|
| Pneumococcal infections |
|
|
| Poliomyelitis |
|
|
| Rotavirus |
| |
| Rubella |
|
|
| Tetanus |
|
|
| Varicella/ Zoster/ Herpes zoster |
|
|
| Japanese encephalitis (JE) |
|
|
| Mpox (monkeypox)/ smallpox/ vaccinia virus |
|
|
General notes
Contraindications must be observed as in The Australian Immunisation Handbook current at the time of administration. Due to the nature of some medical conditions especially involving immunosuppression, the final decision that immunisation is indicated should be made by the individual’s treating doctor due to the specialist nature of the condition. If you are ever unsure if you should be administering a vaccine to a person, you should not proceed with immunisation, and instead refer them to their GP for advice.
Valid consent must be obtained for each immunisation in accordance with the protocol listed in The Australian immunisation handbook that is current at the time of administration. The process of establishing if contra-indications exist and valid consent given must include the use of a Pre-Immunisation Checklist** given to the parent/person to be immunised.
Cold chain must be maintained as per the recommendations of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines Strive for 5, which is current at the time of administration.
Notification that a vaccine has been given must be sent to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
A reasonable check of the client’s immunisation history must be undertaken before immunisation.
The Chief Health Officer has approved in the defined local government areas of the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Whittlesea, Hume City Council and the City of Casey within the scope of the Program for Refugee Immunisation Monitoring and Education (PRIME) , nurse immunisers employed or contracted by these councils, to administer the childhood formulation six-valent Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis | Polio | Hepatitis B | Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (DTPa-IPV-Hep B-Hib) and the combination Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella (MMRV) vaccines to adolescents up to the age of 18 years. This is a time-limited activity until 31 December 2023.
The client should be advised a record of the immunisation(s) given will be available on the AIR and the Child Health Record if applicable.
- Travel medicine is a specialist area that should include a medical consultation.
- A case of this vaccine preventable disease is notifiable to the Department of Health under the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1990. Department of Health will provide advice on the further management of the case and contacts.
- Approval to immunise does not include the administration of immunoglobulin preparations.
- Tetanus prone wounds should be reviewed in a medical consultation.
- Seronegative women of childbearing age who are being immunised with rubella containing vaccine should be advised to have rubella serology performed two months after immunisation to check immune status.
- Although immunisation is indicated, the final decision that immunisation is indicated should be made by the individual’s treating doctor due to the specialist nature of the condition.
- Should require consultation with infection control specialist.
**Resources available at Immunisation resources order form.
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Reviewed 12 May 2023