Government funded vaccine ordering
Based on provider feedback in 2024, the pre-allocation system for the first order will continue to be utilised for GPs, pharmacist immunisers and Aboriginal Medical Services.
Pre-allocation orders will be open for confirmation from
late February/early March 2025 . You must confirm the quantity of your first allocation through the
online ordering system.
Only confirmed orders will be dispatched from the warehouse.
Deliveries will commence when vaccine stocks have been received from suppliers, around late March.
Immunisation providers who do not have a Vaccine Account Number (VAN) with the State Vaccine Centre will need to
apply for one. If you require assistance with your application, contact your Public Health unit on 1300 066 055. Faxed orders will not be accepted.
Due to the large volume of orders at the beginning of the season, it takes approximately four weeks for the NSW Vaccine Centre to deliver all first orders. The
checklist timeline at the front of the Influenza Vaccination Provider Toolkit will assist you to prepare for your influenza vaccination program.
Key points to consider when you confirm your pre-allocated order
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Calculate how many vaccinations your service can provide each day. Review the average number of patients each GP, Nurse and pharmacist can vaccinate each day your practice/pharmacy is open, plus add a buffer of several days.
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Check your vaccine fridge storage space. You may need to source an additional purpose-built vaccine specific fridge for additional storage space to maintain adequate vaccine stock during the influenza program. Check with the manufacturer about your fridge’s vaccine storage capacity. Remember that vaccines must be protected from light and remain in their original cardboard packaging. If you are administering other vaccines, ensure you have fridge
capacity for all vaccines at the same time.
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Review your patient cohort in general practice. For example, how many patients are aged 65 years and over, children aged 6 months to less than 5 years, Aboriginal people aged 6 months and over, pregnant, and medically at-risk individuals. Order vaccines appropriate to your patient cohorts. Pharmacy pre-allocations are based on equitable stock distribution. If this initial order is too large, you have the ability to reduce the amount during the confirmation process.
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Consider the number of 2024 influenza vaccines your practice/pharmacy discarded.
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You will be able to confirm your allocation and you can reduce your allocation if you do not have fridge capacity to store the vaccines.
When placing subsequent orders
- Consider how many vaccines your practice/ pharmacy can feasibly administer each week, and order regularly, thereafter, based on the number of remaining eligible patients.
- Only order sufficient vaccines for use in a maximum 4-week period. Remember that children aged 6 months to less than 9 years of age require 2 doses at least 4 weeks apart in their first year of influenza vaccination.
- Keep in mind that the demand for influenza vaccines will decrease after the first 4-6 weeks of the program.
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Providers should aim for no more than two orders per month.
Online ordering system messaging
Messages regarding changes to influenza vaccine stock availability and any ordering restrictions will be regularly posted on the
online vaccine ordering system. It is important to regularly check for new messages during the influenza vaccination program.
Vaccine delivery
NIP Program
Deliveries of funded vaccine will commence around
late March -early April 2025, depending on the delivery of vaccines into the NSW Vaccine Centre. Advice on delivery dates for private market influenza vaccines should be sought directly from wholesalers.
Providers must clearly label their influenza vaccine stock to minimise the risk of inappropriate administration to an incorrect age-group. To support providers, vaccine basket stickers will be sent with influenza vaccine deliveries.
