Immunisation – Pharmacists

Pharmacist immunisers in NSW can administer a range of vaccines as outlined in the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards.

NCIRS regularly updates their document ‘Vaccines from community pharmacy’ which provides a summary of vaccines that can be administered by pharmacists, by antigens, age groups, states and funding (NIP or Private). NSW health also provides a vaccine eligibility table for pharmacists in NSW.

Legislation

NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards – (Last updated 13th June 2024)

NSW Authority – Supply of vaccines by pharmacists – (Last updated 13th June 2024)

NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation (2008)

NIPVIP 

From 1 January 2024, the Commonwealth Government will fund participating pharmacies to administer National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines, with a one-off payment of $18.85 administration fee per vaccination. The payment applies to NIP vaccines, given to people fitting the criteria listed in table.

NSW Health – Guidance for Pharmacist Immunisers

From January 2024 pharmacist immunisers will be eligible to receive a Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) payment of $18.85 for each National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccine that they administer to people aged 5 years and over in community pharmacies. Further information about the MBS payment to pharmacists for administration of NIP vaccine is available on the Australian Government website.

Any pharmacy in NSW that wishes to access NIP vaccines and does not have a vaccine account with the State Vaccine Centre (SVC) will need to register for a Vaccine Account Number (VAN).

From Monday, 29 April 2024, the National Immunisation Program Vaccinations in Pharmacy (NIPVIP) Program will expand, allowing pharmacies to claim payment for administering National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines in residential aged care and disability homes. The vaccines able to be administered are subject to state or territory requirements and legislation. Additionally, NIPVIP payments will be indexed starting 1 July 2024.

Further information about the NIPVIP can be found on the Pharmacy Programs Administrator webpage

CVCP – COVID-19 vaccination

Pharmacists can register to administer COVID vaccinations both in pharmacy and off-site to patients who are house-bound or living in a Residential Aged Care Home. Please refer to the PPA portal for more details relating to CVCP program, including both initial registration and continued participation in the program.

• CVCP program rules
• COVID-19 vaccine FAQs for Pharmacists – NSW Health
• For non-Medicare patients: use special Medicare number (25437529911) for claiming in PPA portal

Applying for a Vaccine Account Number (VAN) from the State Vaccine Centre

To order NIP vaccines, pharmacies must first have a Vaccine Account Number (VAN) from the State Vaccine Centre. See the comprehensive VAN toolkit for assistance on how to complete your application.

1. Register by visiting the NSW Vaccine centre online ordering system and following the prompts.
2. If you do not already have an AIR provider number, you must apply for this first as it may take a few weeks. Details are available on application to register as a vaccination provider with the AIR.
   1. Pharmacists that do not already have organisation and individual PRODA access, must also apply for PRODA prior to applying for a VAN
3. Pharmacist immunisers must also abide by the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards and complete the online Declaration form

If you previously applied for a VAN and you have not received advice from the State Vaccine Centre, please call 1300 656 132.

All vaccines administered by a pharmacist must be recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) as per the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination standards.

Register for AIR access

Prior to applying for a VAN, you must apply for an AIR provider number (via IM004 form). In NSW, the NSW pharmacist declaration form and sent to MOH-VaccReports@health.nsw.gov.au

Once your application to register your pharmacy as an AIR vaccination provider is approved, you will be sent two letters in the mail, one containing the details of your AIR provider number and the second containing your AIR linking code. To access AIR via your professional services software, the AIR provider number also needs to be inputted into the software.

You will then need to link your organisation PRODA to AIR and then link the pharmacist PRODA to the organisation PRODA. Please see below information on how to do this:

• FULL steps to set up access to the AIR for your medical practice, pharmacy or organisation
• AIR: Application to register as a vaccination provider form (IM004)
• NSW Pharmacist Declaration Form

Accessing the AIR

• Infographic: Connecting Pharmacies to the AIR
• Infographic: Accessing the AIR site for the first time as a member of a pharmacy or an organisation
• For any technical issues, please contact AIR help desk: 1300 650 039

Mandatory reporting to the AIR

• Mandatory reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register has been passed through the Australian Parliament in Feb 2020. See: Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020.
• COVID-19 vaccines, once approved for use and administered in Australia must be reported to the AIR.
• Influenza vaccinations must be reported to the AIR from 1 March 2021.
• All other NIP vaccinations must be reported from 1 July 2021.

Failing to report to the AIR will result in civil penalty of “30 penalty units“, which equates to a fine of $6,660 according to the Crimes Act 1914. See Fines for Commonwealth offences

• Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020
• Email: MOH-PharmaceuticalServices@health.nsw.gov.au

Uploading records to the AIR

• MedAdvisor – How to record immunisations and upload to AIR
• GuildNG – How to submit vaccination records to the AIR

See Steps to record vaccination services to AIR via GuildCareNG and MedAdvisor PlusOne

Infographic: How to generate AIR reports in pharmacy

Immuniser training: The pharmacist immuniser must complete a training course conducted by an Australian Pharmacy Council accredited pharmacy education program provider, that complies with the ‘Standards for the Accreditation of Programs to Support Pharmacist Administration of Vaccines’ (current version). The pharmacist immuniser must hold a certificate confirming competency to vaccinate following completion of an accredited training program for all authorised vaccines that they intend to administer.

COVID-19 vaccine training: In addition to the above requirements, to supply and administer COVID-19 vaccines, a pharmacist immuniser must also have read the ATAGI guidance on the use of multi-dose vials for COVID-19 vaccination and reviewed the NSW Health guidance on management of COVID-19 vaccines for each specific COVID-19 vaccine type to be administered.

JE vaccine training: In addition to the above requirements, to supply and administer any Japanese encephalitis vaccine, a pharmacist immuniser must also successfully complete the Japanese encephalitis vaccine training: Japanese encephalitis – A learning resource for immunisation providers.

CPR training: The pharmacist immuniser must hold a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate issued within the last 12 months. If the pharmacist is administering vaccines to people aged less than 14 years of age, the CPR certificate must include paediatric CPR training.

Ongoing education: To maintain authority to immunise, the pharmacist immuniser must annually review best practice policy for immunisation and ensure their competence for each vaccine they administer. This maybe, but is not limited to, attendance at seminars on current practices, or formal immunisation update courses.

Intern pharmacist: An intern pharmacist who holds certification to vaccinate is only able to administer specified vaccines under the direct supervision of a pharmacist immuniser who holds certification to vaccinate for the relevant vaccine.

PSA Immunisation Training – Pharmaceutical Society of Australia

Pharmacy Guild Immunisation Course – The Pharmacy Guild of Australia

Pharmacist Immunisation Newsletter

CESPHN is delighted to announce its first newsletter dedicated to pharmacist immunisers! Here you will find your monthly update on immunisation news relevant to pharmacy.

Previous issues

• July 2024
• August 2024