Specialist immunisation services

For health professionals

Immunisation specialist services provide specialised immunisation advice and care to clinicians. These services have specialised nursing and medical staff to provide clinical advice on immunisation for patients with complex or unusual medical backgrounds or who have had an adverse event following immunisation. 

Useful COVID-19 related resources

NCIRS COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions to find answers to  some COVID-19 related questions you may have.

NCIRS COVID-19 vaccination: summary for immunisation providers to access the latest advice and information about related topics.

NCIRS COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia to get links to the latest resources.

State and territory specialist immunisation services 

This resource has been developed to help immunisation providers access additional advice and specialist immunisation support, both for general immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination, throughout Australia.

  • New South Wales
    Advice for immunisation providers  - COVID-19 immunisation

    NSW Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS)

    Immunisation providers are requested to email clinical questions to NSWISS at SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au and include a contact phone number. Responses will be provided via email or return phone call as appropriate within 1 business day. The NSWISS email inbox will be monitored Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.

    General public: We are unable to provide direct clinical advice to the general public. Please visit your General practitioner (GP) to discuss your specific clinical situation. Your healthcare provider is advised to contact the appropriate immunisation specialist service in your state if additional clinical support is required. 

    NSW vaccination hub doctors can contact the immunisation fellow or specialist on call for urgent clinical support via The Children’s Hospital at Westmead switchboard on 02 9845 0000 (both during business and after hours). 

    For urgent after-hours advice on the immediate investigation and management of serious AEFI clinicians can contact NSWISS via The Children’s Hospital at Westmead switchboard on 02 9845 0000 and ask for the on-call immunisation specialist.
    Advice for immunisation providers - general immunisation

    Health professionals are encouraged to contact their local PHU as their first point of contact. Tel: 1300 066 055

    Further support:

    NSW Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS)

    Immunisation providers are requested to email clinical questions to NSWISS at SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au  and include a contact phone number. Responses will be provided via email or return phone call as appropriate within 1 business day. The NSWISS email inbox is monitored Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm.

    For urgent after-hours advice on the immediate investigation and management of serious AEFI, clinicians can contact NSWISS via The Children’s Hospital at Westmead switchboard on 02 9845 0000 and ask for the on-call immunisation specialist.

    General public: We are unable to provide direct clinical advice to the general public. Please visit your general practitioner (GP) to discuss your specific clinical situation. Your healthcare provider is advised to contact the appropriate immunisation specialist service in your state if additional clinical support is required. 
    Clinics

    The Children’s Hospital at Westmead:

    Tel: (02) 9845 1414  or email SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au

    Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick:


    John Hunter Hospital:
    Adverse events reporting

    All suspected AEFI in NSW should be reported by contacting your local Public Health Unit (PHU). 

    Tel: 1300 066 055

    For COVID-19 vaccine AEFI, please refer to the NSW Health website.
  • Victoria
    Advice line - general immunisation

    Health professionals may contact the Victorian Department of Health, Immunisation Unit by emailing immunisation@health.vic.gov.au
     

    Further support:

    Royal Children’s Immunisation Hotline 

    Tel: 1300 882 924 Option 3 for general advice

    Monash Immunisation Service

    Tel: (03) 9594 6320 or 1300 882 924 Option 5
    Advice line - COVID-19 vaccination 

    For clinical advice, refer to the Victorian Department of Health Information hub – COVID vaccine

    https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/information-hub-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine

    or 

    call the National Coronavirus Hotline

    Tel: 1800 020 080 Option 4: Health enquiries

    To access the Victorian Specialist Immunisation Services (VicSIS), please refer to the VicSIS referral form.

    Reporting

    To report serious adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), visit Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community (SAEFVIC) website
    or

    call the Coronavirus Hotline

    1800 675 398
    Clinics

    The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne:

    • Specialist Immunisation Clinic including Telehealth

    • 1300 882 924 Option 1

    Monash Medical Centre (all ages)

    • Specialist Immunisation Clinic including Telehealth

    • 1300 882 924 Option 4

    Alfred Health Specialist Immunisation Service

    Phone: (03) 9076 5200

    Referrals can be faxed to 9076 6938 or emailed to specialistimmunisationservice@alfred.org.au
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected AEFI in Victoria (VIC) can be reported to SAEFVIC by accessing the  SAEFVIC website.

    Tel: 1300 882 924 Option 1
  • Queensland
    Advice line

    Health professionals are encouraged to contact their local Public Health Unit as their first point of contact.

    Further support:

    Queensland Specialist Immunisation Service (QSIS) – paediatric only

    Tel: (07) 3068 1111 

    Calls  will be redirected to paediatric immunisation specialist
    Clinics

    Queensland Children’s Hospital (QSIS)

    • Specialist Immunisation clinic 

    • Telehealth - (07) 3068 1111

    Queensland Adult Specialist Immunisation Service (QASIS) – Adult service (over 16 years) 

    Referrals for QASIS can be sent via Smart Referral Workflow Solution (QASIS is located under Immunology – Medical Objects – ID MQ40290004P

    For more information contact QASIS on (07) 3646 3300 or email RBWH-QASIS@health.qld.gov.au
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) in Queensland (QLD) can be reported by downloading the Qld Adverse Events Following Immunisation Reporting Form from the Queensland Health website.

    For further information contact your local PHU.
  • South Australia
    Advice line - general immunisation

    SA Health Immunisation Section 

    Tel: 1300 232 272
    Advice line - COVID-19

    South Australian COVID-19 Specialist Immunisation Clinic

    COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Service

    Tel: 1300 232 272.

    8.30 am – 5.00 pm (Monday to Friday)

    Serious adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) related to COVID vaccines can also be reported on this number outside of business hours.

    All referrals to the South Australian COVID-19 Specialist Immunisation Clinic must be forwarded via fax or email using the SACSIC Referral Form (PDF 47KB).

    Fax: 08 7074 6247

    Email: Health.RAHCOVIDVaccineAdverseEffects@sa.gov.au

    For more information on the SACSIC referral process refer to the SACSIC Clinical Referral Guide (PDF 272KB)  
    Clinics

    Women’s & Children’s Hospital
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected AEFI in South Australia (SA) can be reported via submission of the online Vaccine Reaction Reporting Form which can also be downloaded both options available on the South Australian Health website

    Tel: 1300 232 272
  • Western Australia
    Advice line - general immunisation

    For general advice: Health professionals are encouraged to contact the Child & Adolescent Community Health: Central Immunisation Clinic or local Public Health Unit 

    For further support or for complex immunisation advice:

    Stan Perron Immunisation Service

    Perth Children’s Hospital

    Tel: 08 6456 2222
    Advice line - COVID-19 vaccination

    General advice (not bookings or adverse events) 

    Metropolitan Communicable Disease Control

    Tel: 9222 8588  

    8 am to 4 pm (Monday to Friday) 

    For adverse events reporting, see below.

    For urgent after-hours advice about serious adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), call 6457 3333 and ask for the on-call immunologist. 
    Clinics

    Children

    Perth Children’s Hospital:

    Stan Perron Immunisation Service: Specialist Immunisation Clinic

    Department of Infectious Diseases

    Tel: 1300 551 142 

    Adults

    Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 

    Immunology Department

    Tel: 08 6457 3333 
    Adverse events reporting

    WA notifications are made through the online WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance System (WAVSS)

    Visit WA Department of Health website for further details 

    If guidance and advice around AEFI reporting is required, WAVSS staff can be contacted at:

    Tel: 6456 0208  

    8 am to 4.30 pm (Monday to Friday) 
  • Australian Capital Territory
    Advice line - general immunisation and COVID-19 vaccinations

    ACT Health Immunisation Unit

    Tel: 02 5124 9800

    8.30 am to 4.30 pm

    After hours support available for urgent matters only on 02 5124 9800 (follow prompts)
    Clinics

    Centenary Hospital for Women and Children

    Specialist Immunisation Clinic

    Tel: 02 6205 2300
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) can be reported by Immunisation Adverse Event reporting form available on the ACT Government ACT Health website

    Tel: 02 6205 2300
  • Tasmania
    Advice line - general immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination

    DoH Public Health Hotline

    Tel: 1800 671 738

    Hours of support: 

    Monday – Friday: 8 am – 7 pm

    Saturday – Sunday: 8 am – 4 pm.

    On-call service available
    Clinics

    Royal Hobart Hospital 

    Paediatrician Specialist Medical Review Outpatients Clinic 

    Tel: 1300 135 513
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected AEFI in Tasmania should be reported to the local health authority (i.e. the AEFI team within the Public Health Unit). The PHU refers the AEFIs to the Therapeutic Goods Administration on a weekly basis or sooner in the event of a serious AEFI.

    Tel: 1800 671 738
  • Northern Territory
    Advice line - general immunisation and COVID-19 vaccination

    NT immunisation advice line 

    Tel: 08 8922 8315 or 1800 008 002
    Clinics

    Royal Darwin Hospital or Alice Springs Hospital

    Refer to Paediatrician or medical specialist (adults)

    For further information contact the NT immunisation advice line
    Adverse events reporting

    A suspected adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) in the Northern Territory (NT) can be reported by the Adverse event following immunisation /vaccine failure form available on the Northern Territory Government Department of Health website

    Tel: 1800 008 002

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