About us
MVEC (Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre) is a not‑for‑profit, independent source of immunisation education, advice and recommendations for healthcare professionals and members of the public. MVEC’s resources are evidence‑based, up‑to‑date and regularly reviewed by our team of vaccine experts and other specialist contributors.
Based at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), MVEC works closely with SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination In the Community). We collaborate with subject matter experts, hospital immunisation services and community providers across Australia.
MVEC went live in 2014 as an educational website. We now provide vaccine news and education on our website, in our newsletter, through podcasts and on our social media platforms. MVEC also offers professional development opportunities on our Education Portal, through face‑to‑face and online events, including the Clinical Vaccinology Update (CVU) and practical Immunisation Skills Workshops.
MVEC provides accessible education resources to promote vaccine safety and encourage health providers and members of the public alike to become better informed decision-makers when it comes to immunisation. Ongoing education not only improves health providers’ clinical practice but also increases confidence among both providers and consumers.
Our resources are primarily tailored to healthcare professionals, including immunisation nurses, midwives, pharmacists, GPs, paediatricians and adult physicians, with content relevant to all Australian jurisdictions. Many MVEC guidelines are also useful internationally. We encourage members of the public to access MVEC, and we aim to present information in a format that is accessible to everyone.
MVEC is a part of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Vaccine Safety Net. All Vaccine Safety Net members are verified by WHO as a source of reliable and credible vaccine safety information.
If you are interested in collaborating with MVEC or have any feedback on our educational resources, please get in touch.
Meet the team
Professor Nigel Crawford
BMBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD
Director
Professor Nigel Crawford is an internationally recognised vaccinologist, immunisation policy and vaccine safety expert. He is the Director of SAEFVIC (Victorian safety reporting service) and MVEC at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, as well as medical head of the Royal Children’s Hospital Immunisation Service. Nigel served as a member of the Australian Therapeutic Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), from 2014–2025, and was Chair from 2021–2025. Prof Crawford is an active member on numerous vaccinology committees on a national and international level including WHO, WPRO, GNN, INSIS Canada, and ARIA, NCIRS and DFAT in Australia. His research interests include the translation of evidence into policy, vaccine safety, immunisation of special risk groups and emerging infections.
Rachael McGuire
BNurs, GradCertClinEd
Education Nurse Coordinator
Rachael is a Registered Nurse and accredited Nurse Immuniser with a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education. She has experience immunising at local council, travel clinics and hospital immunisation services, including SAEFVIC. Her special interests lie in vaccine safety, the immunisation of special risk groups and vaccine equity. In 2023, Rachael’s enthusiasm for public health led to her involvement in DFAT-funded projects in Lao PDR, providing education and support to improve decision-making around immunisation policy.
Professor Jim Buttery
MBBS, FRACP, MSc, MD
Adviser
Professor Buttery is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and vaccinologist. He is the inaugural Professor of Child Health Informatics at the University of Melbourne. He is Head of Health Informatics, Epidemiology and Signal Detection at SAEFVIC (MCRI) and Chief Clinical Research Information Officer and Infectious Diseases Physician at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Professor Buttery also serves as a member of the Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee, member of the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) Advisory Committee on Vaccines, member of the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation, SPEAC meta-DSMB COVID vaccines, and member of DSMB, COVID vaccine candidate, Serum Institute of India.
Dr Ingrid Laemmle-Ruff
MBBS, BMedSc, MPH, FRACP, FAFPHM
Adviser
Dr Ingrid Laemmle-Ruff is a general paediatrician and public health physician. She works in vaccine safety at SAEFVIC and in community paediatrics. She has interests in immunisation, immigrant health and child public health.
Georgina Lewis
BN, PGDipN(Paediatrics)
Adviser
Georgina is a Registered Nurse with a background in paediatric nursing at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing, Paediatrics and has been an accredited Nurse Immuniser since 2005. Georgina has been working with Victoria’s vaccine safety service, SAEFVIC since 2007 and currently holds the position of Clinical Manager. She also works as a casual Nurse Immuniser with a local council. Her special interests include vaccine safety, surveillance, education and immunisation research.
Alice Black
BA(Hons), GDipPsych
Marketing Communications Assistant
Alice has a background in Psychology and English Literature. She is interested in language, writing and communication in health sciences. She is currently completing an Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing.
Lois Tham
DipMktg
Administrative and Technical Support
Lois is the administrative assistant at MVEC and personal assistant to Professor Nigel Crawford. She has a background in marketing communications, customer relations and has extensive experience in corporate/ private events management.