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National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) is the leading research organisation in Australia that provides independent expert advice on all aspects of vaccine preventable diseases, and other issues related to immunisation, to inform policy and planning for immunisation services in Australia.

Research and surveillance activities include surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases, monitoring of vaccination coverage, evaluation of vaccination programs, monitoring of vaccine safety and social research. NCIRS also provides technical support to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, including development and review of technical content for The Australian Immunisation Handbook.

NCIRS brings together experts in public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, paediatrics, internal medicine, infectious diseases, epidemiology and quantitative and qualitative survey methods.

Vision and mission

Healthy people in Australia and beyond through immunisation.

To lead and support collaborative research and to advance immunisation policy and practice.

How NCIRS can help

Our work

The primary role of NCIRS in Australia is to provide expert technical immunisation advice to government. NCIRS is unable to provide patient-specific medical advice. Please visit your General practitioner (GP) to discuss your specific clinical situation.

Programs, apps and tools

AusVaxSafety

Led by NCIRS and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, AusVaxSafety is a world-leading national vaccine safety surveillance system. Using de-identified data reported directly from people receiving the vaccines (or their parent or carer), AusVaxSafety monitors adverse events following immunisation and facilitates early detection of potential vaccine safety issues. In the days following vaccination, responses are solicited via an automated SMS using AusVaxSafety surveillance tools (SmartVax or Vaxtracker), which have been implemented in more than 300 sentinel sites across Australia. For more information, visit ausvaxsafety.org.au.

SKAI – Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation

The SKAI website for parents contains information that you can trust, including information about the vaccinations recommended for your child between birth and 4 years. It also provides answers to the common questions parents ask about vaccination.

Recommended links

Last reviewed: July 2023

Information from this partner

Found 69 results

Influenza vaccination information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people | NCIRS

Information about influenza vaccination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Why does my child need a flu shot? | Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation | SKAI

Serious side effects are very rare

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

What about autism? | Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation | SKAI

Some people think there is a connection because a British a research group, led by Andrew Wakefield, suggested that some children who had received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine went on to develop bowel disease and developmental disorders such as autism

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Why is the schedule the way it is? | Sharing Knowledge about Immunisation | SKAI

The schedule is carefully planned to protect babies and children as soon as it is possible

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

COVID-19 vaccine development landscape | NCIRS

COVID-19 vaccine development landscape COVID-19 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation Australian Immunisation Handbook AusVaxSafety Clinical research COSSI COVID-19 NCIRS COVID-19 response COVID-19 vaccine development landscape COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions COVID-19 and children: Frequently asked questions Serosurveillance for SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 vaccination program in Australia COVID-19 in educational settings Disease surveillance and epidemiology Education and training New South Wales Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS) Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS) PHN Immunisation Support program Population health Program evaluation Regional and global collaborations Research to inform policy Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) Serosurveillance Social science in immunisation Vaccine coverage Vaccine safety In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our policy support team has been closely monitoring publicly available information on COVID-19 vaccine candidates

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Vaccination from community pharmacy - at a glance | NCIRS

Information sheet [PDF - 249 KB] February 2023 The contents of this information sheet were last updated on 17 February 2023.

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

COVID-19 vaccination - summary for immunisation providers | NCIRS

A regularly updated summary of latest advice and information about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination program for immunisation providers

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Specialist immunisation services | NCIRS

A resource to help immunisation providers access additional advice and specialist immunisation support throughout Australia.

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Measles vaccination catch-up guide | NCIRS

Measles vaccination catch-up guide for Australian immunisation providers [PDF - 470kB]  13 June 2019

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

Human papillomavirus | NCIRS

Human papillomavirus vaccines for Australians fact sheet Human papillomavirus vaccines for Australians FAQs The latest update of these resources includes information on changes to the National Immunisation Program, including changing to a single dose vaccine and extension of eligibility for the catch-up program up to and including 25 years of age.

Read more on National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) website

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