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    22 May 2026 | NewsAustralia is battling its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades. But vaccines could curb itRead the full article

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      • For health professionals
        • Australian Immunisation Handbook
        • Immunisation coverage data and reports
        • Education and training
        • History of immunisation
        • Immunisation schedules
        • National and international resources
        • NCIRS fact sheets, FAQs and other resources
        • NCIRS webinar series
        • Patient communication resources
        • Specialist immunisation services
        • SKAI - supporting health professionals
        • NCIRS newsletters
        • Vaccine safety
      • For the public
        • Immunisation schedules
        • Immunisation records
        • Influenza vaccination information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
        • MMRV vaccine decision aid
        • HPV vaccination
        • No Jab No Pay, No Jab No Play
        • SKAI - supporting communities
        • Strategies to increase vaccination uptake
        • Travel vaccination
        • Vaccination from community pharmacy
        • Vaccine safety
      • Our work
        • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation
        • Australian Immunisation Handbook
        • AusVaxSafety
        • Clinical research
        • COSSI
        • COVID-19
        • Disease surveillance and epidemiology
        • Education and training
        • Global Health
        • National Vaccination Insights project
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        • Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS)
        • PHN Immunisation Support program
        • Population health
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        • Research to inform policy
        • Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)
        • Serosurveillance
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      Our work

      Objective, expert evidence and advice to inform policy and planning for immunisation services in Australia and our region

      Our work

      Main navigation

      • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation
      • Australian Immunisation Handbook
      • AusVaxSafety
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      • Disease surveillance and epidemiology
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      • Global Health
      • National Vaccination Insights project
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      • Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS)
      • PHN Immunisation Support program
      • Population health
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      • Research to inform policy
      • Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)
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      Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation

      NCIRS plays an active role in promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's health through a combination of activities.

      Australian Immunisation Handbook

      The Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice. NCIRS plays a critical role in the development of the Handbook.

      AusVaxSafety

      AusVaxSafety is a national, collaborative active vaccine safety surveillance initiative led by NCIRS.

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      Clinical research

      NCIRS leads, coordinates and participates in vaccine-related clinical research, in collaboration with other research institutions in Australia. Find out more.

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      COSSI

      COSSI is a collective of people who work collaboratively to improve vaccine acceptance and uptake by understanding barriers and enablers of immunisation. Find out more.

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      COVID-19

      NCIRS is undertaking multiple research projects and tracking the development of vaccine to support response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

      Disease surveillance and epidemiology

      NCIRS undertakes surveillance and epidemiological analysis of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) using de-identified national datasets of VPD notifications, hospitalisations and deaths.

      Education and training

      NCIRS conducts varied educational and professional development programs for students, advanced trainees and immunisation professionals more broadly. These educational programs and activities include:

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      Global Health

      NCIRS is expanding its role in immunisation to have a greater impact on disease prevention in the community, both within Australia and internationally.

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      National Vaccination Insights project

      Monitoring vaccination barriers and drivers to improve uptake in Australia 

      New South Wales Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS)

      NSWISS, established by NCIRS in collaboration with NSW Health, provides specialised immunisation care and advice to clinicians and families.

      Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS)

      NCIRS coordinates the PAEDS network which conducts active, hospital-based surveillance of serious childhood conditions, particularly vaccine preventable diseases and adverse events following immunisation.

      PHN Immunisation Support program

      NCIRS leads the development and implementation of the Primary Health Network (PHN) Immunisation Support Program.

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      Population Health

      NCIRS analyses large population health datasets to inform national vaccine policy development and immunisation program evaluation.

      Program evaluation

      NCIRS conducts evaluation of vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and in state and territory programs.

      Research to inform policy

      NCIRS provides scientific research support to the Australian Government Department of Health and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), particularly for the development and implementation of national immunisation policies.

      Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation

      SKAI — Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation — is a suite of vaccination communication support tools.

      Serosurveillance

      NCIRS coordinates and conducts national serosurveillance in the Australian population.

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      Social science in immunisation

      At NCIRS, we use social science methods and approaches to understand vaccination behaviour and decision making.

      Vaccine coverage

      NCIRS plays a preeminent role in the analysis and reporting of data from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and the use of these data for research, surveillance and program evaluation.

      Vaccine safety

      NCIRS plays a central and collaborative role in monitoring, evaluating, managing and promoting vaccine safety in Australia.

        Main navigation

        • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation
        • Australian Immunisation Handbook
        • AusVaxSafety
        • Clinical research
        • COSSI
        • COVID-19
        • Disease surveillance and epidemiology
        • Education and training
        • Global Health
        • National Vaccination Insights project
        • New South Wales Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS)
        • Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS)
        • PHN Immunisation Support program
        • Population health
        • Program evaluation
        • Research to inform policy
        • Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)
        • Serosurveillance
        • Social science in immunisation
        • Vaccine coverage
        • Vaccine safety

      News & events

      Australia is battling its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades. But vaccines could curb it News | 22 May 2026

      Australia is battling its worst diphtheria outbreak in decades. But vaccines could curb it

      NCIRS study finds serious recurrent complications after TTS are rare, but persistent symptoms affecting physical and mental health are common News | 08 May 2026

      NCIRS study finds serious recurrent complications after TTS are rare, but persistent symptoms affecting physical and mental health are common

      Poliovirus detected in wastewater in Australia News | 08 May 2026

      Poliovirus detected in wastewater in Australia

      Understanding behavioural and social drivers of childhood vaccination in Timor Leste News | 30 April 2026

      Understanding behavioural and social drivers of childhood vaccination in Timor Leste

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      NCIRS

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      We acknowledge that the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is on the land of the traditional owners the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, and recognise their culture, history, diversity and their deep connection to the land. Together, through research and partnership, we aim to move to a place of equity for all. NCIRS also acknowledges and pays respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations from which our research, staff and community are drawn.

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      NCIRS, Kids Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Cnr Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Westmead Locked Bag 4001, Westmead NSW 2145 Tel (612) 9845 1433  |  Fax (612) 9845 1418  |  ABN 53 188 579 090

      Our website meets the criteria for credibility and content as defined by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety.

      We acknowledge that the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is on the land of the traditional owners the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, and recognise their culture, history, diversity and their deep connection to the land. Together, through research and partnership, we aim to move to a place of equity for all. NCIRS also acknowledges and pays respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations from which our research, staff and community are drawn.

      Affiliated with: