Administering vaccines

The Medicines and Poisons Regulations allow for the administration of a vaccine by a health practitioner without a medical practitioner’s prescription in the following cases.

Practitioners working under a SASA issued by the Department of Health are expected to have completed additional specialist immunisation training as outlined in the conditions to the Arrangement. Other routine conditions for all practitioners working under these Arrangements include:

• compliance with the Australian Immunisation Handbook
• ensuring cold chain of vaccines is maintained
• obtaining informed consent for patients
• keeping clinical records of all vaccines administered
• reporting all adverse events.

There are a number of public health vaccination programs run across WA to immunise:

• Indigenous patients
• prisoners
• pregnant women
• children

These are authorised under Arrangements that allow registered nurses and midwives with approved training to immunise according to the WA immunisation Schedule, or in certain endemic circumstances. Immunisation provider information and resources are also available.

Pharmacists may administer a limited number of vaccines, without a prescription. This initiative is supported by two Structured Administration and Supply Arrangements (SASA's): one for influenza vaccine and one for MMR, dTpa and meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccines. Pharmacists must have completed an approved course of immunisation training. The pharmacy must also meet minimum standards and equipment must be present to treat anaphylaxis and other serious adverse reactions.

Pharmacists must enter details of all vaccines administered onto the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) (external site).

Some pharmacies utilise the services of a medical or nurse practitioner for vaccination. Pharmacies hosting a vaccine service should adhere to guidelines issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (external site).

There are now many mobile immunisation services that will come to the workplace to administer vaccines. These businesses required a Health Services Permit to supply vaccines.  A medical practitioner working for the service can authorise nurses to administer vaccines through use of a Health Organisation SASA. Copies must be provided to the Department of Health.

The immunisation provider must meet minimum standards of care to ensure:

• legal authorisation of practitioners;
• appropriate training and competence;
• secure purchase and storage of vaccines;
• cold chain integrity;
• patient safety - including consent, infection control, assessment and after care;
• management and reporting of adverse effects;
• clinical record keeping.

Vaccines must be stored at the correct temperature at each stage of storage and supply (termed cold chain) to ensure they do not lose effectiveness.

All immunisation providers should meet National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive-for-5' (external site).

Administration of any prescription medicine to a patient must be recorded in in the patient’s personal medical notes. The treating practitioner must record the:

• patient name and address (if not already in the notes)
• medicine name, strength and form
• quantity administered
• date and time of administration

These records must be kept for two years and produced for inspection if requested by the Department of Health.