Using the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

Removal of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer names

From 16 November 2024, COVID-19 vaccine names will no longer display the manufacturer name within the AIR. For example, the ‘Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5’ vaccine will display as ‘Comirnaty XBB.1.5’.

This simplifies the display of COVID-19 vaccines and aligns with how other vaccines are recorded in the AIR.

The AIR vaccine codes for COVID-19 vaccines will remain the same. More information about AIR vaccine codes and vaccine brand names is available on the Service Australia website.
 

Updates to the Vaccine type field

The Vaccine type options on the AIR site have changed:

  • State Program (STP) and Private (PRV) have been removed 
  • Other (OTH) has been added – this is to be used instead of STP or PRV.
     

Introduction of an antenatal indicator

A new bespoke antenatal indictor has been added to the AIR. This will allow vaccination providers to report to AIR if a person is pregnant at the time of vaccine administration. 

The collection of antenatal data ensures that the AIR contains a complete and reliable dataset to enable the monitoring of: 

  • immunisation coverage and administration
  • the effectiveness and safety of maternal vaccines and vaccination programs.

These enhancements will be implemented in a phased approach as detailed below: 

Implementation dateSummary of changes
8 December 2024

Software developers will have the ability to build the new antenatal indicator into their clinical software products. 

Vaccination providers using updated clinical software will have the ability to report to the AIR:

  • the new antenatal indicator 
  • the following options under the Vaccine type field: 
    • NIP/Commonwealth
    • Other
9 February 2025

Vaccination providers using the AIR site will have the ability to report to the AIR: 

  • the new antenatal indicator
  • the following options under the Vaccine type field: 
    • NIP/Commonwealth
    • Other
Between December 2024 and October 2025

Vaccination providers using clinical software with older technology will have the ability to continue to report antenatal information using the Vaccine type field. This includes the following options: 

  • NIP/Commonwealth 
  • Other
  • Antenatal

Vaccination providers who want to know when these changes will be available in their clinical software are encouraged to speak with their software provider.
 

Updates to AIR forms

AIR forms IM011, IM013 and IM018 will be updated.

IM011: AIR immunisation medical exemption form

  • Updates to the vaccine list:
    • addition of Comirnaty JN.1 
    • addition of Shingrix 
    • removal of AstraZeneca.
  • Updates to COVID-19 vaccine names to remove the manufacturer name.

IM013: AIR immunisation history form

Within the Immunisation details table:

  • updates to the Vaccine type column to replace the Private and State Program options with Other
  • addition of a new tick box column to indicate if the individual was pregnant at the time of vaccination. This will be included in the Adolescent, Adult, Japanese encephalitis virus, Influenza and COVID-19 sections.

IM018: AIR immunisation encounter form

Within the Immunisation encounter table:

  • updates to the Vaccine type column to replace the Private and State Program options with Other
  • updates to the Vaccine list:
    • addition of Comirnaty JN.1 
    • removal of AstraZeneca
  • updates to COVID-19 vaccine names to remove the manufacturer name
  • new question to indicate whether the individual was pregnant at the time of vaccination.

Disclaimer: This information has been collated by staff members of the PHN Immunisation Support Program – an initiative of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance. Care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation; however, users are responsible for checking the currency of this information. Once printed, this document is no longer quality-controlled. Content is considered correct as at 17 December 2024.

 

View additional AIR tips here

Last updated December 2024