Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) update
The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is the national register where vaccinations are recorded.
From 1 March 2024 AIR introduces new reporting requirements to improve the data submitted. The following information will be required to upload an encounter.
Selecting the Vaccine Type will be mandatory
If a vaccination provider is both the immunisation and the information provider, and the vaccine was administered on or after 1 March 2024, specifying the vaccine type will be mandatory for selected vaccines when uploading an encounter to AIR.
Under the vaccine type field, vaccination providers will be able to choose from the following options:
- Antenatal
- NIP/Commonwealth
- Private
- State Program.
Vaccination providers can only select one of the four options under the ‘vaccine type’ field.
The Antenatal option should be selected when the person presenting is pregnant at the time the vaccine is administered, regardless of whether the vaccine is funded privately, under the NIP or a state and territory program.
COVID-19 vaccines should be reported as NIP/Commonwealth.
Where a vaccine has been administered overseas, the country where administered needs to be uploaded.
Route of Administration will be mandatory for selected vaccines (IMOJEV and JESPCT)
If a vaccination provider is both the immunisation and the information provider, and the vaccine was administered on or after 1 March 2024, specifying the route of administration will be mandatory for selected vaccines when uploading an encounter to AIR.
Vaccination providers will be able to choose from the following options:
- Oral
- Subcutaneous
- Intradermal
- Intramuscular
Batch Numbers will be mandatory for selected vaccines (NIP, JEV and Flu)
If a vaccination provider is both the immunisation and the information provider, and the vaccine was administered on or after 1 March 2024, specifying the Batch Number will be mandatory for selected vaccines.
Serial Numbers will be non-mandatory for selected vaccines (COVID)
Serial Number for COVID vaccinations will be non-mandatory.
Availability of reporting fields in MedicalDirector Helix
For MedicalDirector Helix customers, these changes were reflected automatically on 13 March 2024.
Availability of reporting fields in MedicalDirector Clinical
For MedicalDirector Clinical customers, the changes are reflected in Clinical version 4.3, which was made available from 14 February 2024 and can be accessed here. Customers should follow the same process as previous upgrades, which may include contacting their IT provider, and contact our Support teams if assistance if required.
For customers still on Clinical version 4.2 after 1 March 2024, if you would like to add the new vaccination fields outlined above, you can update the AIR record via the AIR website (Health Professional Online Services – HPOS). Details on how to do this are provided by Services Australia: AIRM04INFO6- Update vaccination data already submitted to the AIR site (servicesaustralia.gov.au)
Services Australia has advised that AIR uploads from MedicalDirector Clinical 4.2 or earlier will not be supported from 5 December 2024.
