Guidance for Pharmacist Immunisers – Access to pharmacist approved NIP and state funded vaccines

​Pharmacist immunisers in NSW can administer a range of state and National Immunisation Program (NIP) funded vaccines.

Please refer to the vaccine eligibility table for which vaccines can be administered to eligible patients.

These vaccines can be ordered from the NSW Vaccine Centre after registering the pharmacy for a Vaccine Account Number (VAN).

Eligibility requirements for access to these NIP and state funded vaccines

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

• To register for a VAN for your pharmacy, visit NSW Vaccine centre online ordering system and follow the prompts, noting that you will need to provide your pharmacy's Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) provider number, principal accredited pharmacist immuniser's AHPRA number/expiry date and confirm that all pharmacist immunisers have access to AIR to review and update vaccination records, at least two certificates of completion for the NSW Health Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management online training module, a data logger for continuous temperature monitoring of the vaccine fridge and 72 hours of data logging and min and max temperature recordings of your vaccine fridge. Further details are available on registering for online vaccine ordering.
• If you do not already have an AIR provider number, you must apply for this first. Details are available on application to register as a vaccination provider with the AIR.

Ordering vaccines

• Once a VAN has been obtained, orders for NIP and state funded vaccines, specific to the age groups, can be placed through the NSW Vaccine Centre. Allocation and ordering limits will apply.
  
• Detailed instructions are available from  how to order vaccines.

Acknowledging receipt and storage of delivery

• All NIP and state funded vaccine deliveries must be receipted through the NSW Vaccine Centre.
• Further orders will not be possible if the delivery is not receipted.
• Detailed instructions are available on receiving a vaccine delivery.
• All NIP and state funded vaccines must be stored separately from privately purchased vaccines and clearly labelled to ensure they are only used for patients in the eligible cohorts. Vaccine fridge basket stickers can be ordered using the NSW Immunisation Resource Order Form.
  

Reporting to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

• Pharmacist immunisers must check each individual’s vaccination history on the AIR before administering any vaccines.
  
• Pharmacist immunisers must report all vaccines administered to the AIR, preferably within 24 hours of administration but must be within 10 business days.
  
• Mpox vaccine administration should be reported to AIR, unless the patient specifically opts out of the vaccine being recorded on AIR. If vaccine administration is not recorded on AIR, authorised vaccination providers must be able to provide a record of vaccine use as per the NSW Health State-wide Protocol for the Supply and Administration of JYNNEOS Vaccine​.
  
• Maternal vaccinations received during a woman’s pregnancy should also be clearly documented on the “yellow” antenatal card or other antenatal cards used in private settings.
  
• Information is available on registering for access to the AIR.
  

​Mandatory vaccine storage and cold chain requirements

Vaccines are sensitive medicines that must be protected from light and stored within the temperature range of +2°C to +8°C at all times during storage and transport. 

Pharmacist immunisers must follow the following requirements to ensure effective and potent vaccines are administered to patients: 

• Store vaccines in a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator at +2°C to +8°C in accordance with the Natio​nal Vaccine Storage​ Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’​​​.
• Ensure all vaccines are stored in their original cardboard packaging to protect them from light. 
• Ensure the vaccine refrigerator minimum, maximum and current temperatures are checked and recorded twice daily on the ‘Strive for 5’ – Vaccine ​fridge temperature chart​​, the thermometer is reset, and records are kept. 
  
• All vaccine specific refrigerators are continuously data logged using an electronic data logger and the data logging report is downloaded, saved and reviewed weekly. 
• Ensure all staff in the practice, including administrative staff, who are responsible for vaccine storage and cold chain management, successfully complete the NSW Health Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management online learning module. 
  
• Ensure your pharmacy has a person responsible for vaccine management, and a back-up staff member to take responsibility in their absence. 
• A vaccine storage self-audit must be completed every 12 months (and more frequently if there have been problems with equipment or cold chain breaches). Information on self-audits is available in the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’​.
• The vaccine storage self-audit records must be retained and provided to the Public Health Unit (PHU) if required during the audits. 
• For any cold chain and/or light exposure breaches involving NIP or state funded vaccines, contact your local PHU on 1300 066 055, to discuss the viability of the impacted NIP or state funded vaccines. These vaccines must be separated and labelled 'Do not use’, until further advice is received from the PHU. For further Information, refer to the NSW Cold Chain Breach Protocol.
  

Additional information on cold chain management is also available on the NSW Health Cold Chain management webpage​. 

• Vaccine refrigerators must be secured with locks if they are located in an area where members of the public including vaccinees have access to, such as an immunisation service room or consultation room. 
• Ensure there are processes in place to rotate vaccines and check their expiry date regularly. Bring vaccines with the shortest dates to the front of the refrigerator so they are used first. Expired vaccines must be recorded in the NSW Vaccine Centre Online Ordering System and disposed of appropriately.
• The local public health unit must be contacted on 1300 066 055 when an expired vaccine or a vaccine subjected to a light and/or cold chain breach has been inadvertently supplied and/or administered to an individual. The Safe Vac​cine Storage Checklist​ can be used to help with the safe storage of vaccines.