Australian Immunisation Register

Background

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a ‘whole of life’ national database recording all vaccines administered in Australia. Information on vaccines given overseas can also be recorded.

Anyone who is enrolled in Medicare will automatically be registered with AIR. People who are living in Australia but not eligible for Medicare  should still have their vaccination records uploaded to AIR.

Reporting vaccine administration to AIR is mandatory. As well as current vaccinations, historical records from as early as 1996 can also be recorded. Only authorised immunisation providers with login credentials to the Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) or linked practice management software can record vaccines onto AIR.

In 2016, the previously known Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) expanded to an all of life register and became known as the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR). It is a national register recording the immunisations of all Australians of all ages.

Purpose

Comprehensive reporting of vaccine administration helps to track national vaccination coverage rates. This is important for informing public health policy and research into vaccine-preventable diseases.

By maintaining a record of vaccines administered, AIR also identifies when a person is due or overdue for vaccines according to the National Immunisation Program (NIP). 

Indicating if a vaccine recipient was pregnant at the time of vaccination is important for monitoring the safety and effectiveness of maternal vaccination programs. It also contributes to ascertaining the immunisation requirements of infants; for example, as part of the RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program (RSV-MIPP). 

Recorded information

Vaccine information recorded on the AIR includes:

• all vaccine doses administered
• the date of administration
• brand name
• route of administration
• batch number
• whether the vaccine was part of the NIP/commonwealth funded, antenatal program, privately funded, or state/territory funded.

Medical exemptions to vaccination (temporary or permanent) can also be recorded including contraindications such as anaphylaxis to a previous dose, significant immunocompromise, or natural immunity (hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella).

Any child who is not up to date with the NIP but is completing a catch-up schedule can have this noted on their AIR record. This will allow for some additional time for completion of vaccines before being marked as “overdue”.

Immunisation History Statements and subsidies

A child’s Immunisation History Statement (IHS) is generated from AIR. An IHS showing a child’s vaccinations as up to date is a requirement for enrolment into early childhood education and care services (including kindergarten and childcare) in Victoria (no jab, no play). It is the only accepted form of documentation. IHS can be accessed using a Medicare online account through myGov or through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from any immunisation provider or via the AIR enquiries line.

Families accessing Family Tax Benefit Part A payments or childcare subsidies must also ensure that a child’s AIR record shows that their immunisations are up to date to ensure that payments are not paused or cancelled.

Resources

• Australian Government Department of Human Services: Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
• Australian Government Department of Human Services: AIR education for vaccination providers 
• Australian Government Department of Human Services: Australian Immunisation Register for health professionals 
• Australian Government Department of Human Services: Immunisation medical exemption form