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.

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.