Key messages

  • Use the current vaccine order forms.
  • Order enough vaccines for 1 month.
  • Calculate how many vaccines you need based on monthly attendance at your practice.
  • Check the vaccines on delivery and store them appropriately.

Vaccines - how to order

To order vaccines, follow these steps:

  1. Use the current vaccine order forms.
  2. Order vaccine stock for 1 month of use and aim to order once a month, allowing for buffer stock while waiting for delivery.
  3. Have one person responsible for managing the vaccine stock.
  4. Do not overstock; aim to maintain air circulation in the vaccine fridge.
  5. Complete all sections on the vaccine order form, including the account number, delivery address and current stock quantity of each vaccine being ordered.
  6. Email the vaccine order to Onelink. You will receive a confirmation email after your order is entered and again on dispatch from the warehouse.  
  7. Allow a minimum of 3 business days (5 days in April/May) for processing and delivery of your vaccine order. Note there are no deliveries to country areas on Mondays.
  8. Use the table to estimate the quantity of each vaccine to order each month. At-risk conditions and catch-up recommendations are in The Online Australian Immunisation Handbook.

Table 1: Vaccines and schedules

Vaccine brand ®

Age dose given

Scheduled dose

Considerations for estimating monthly quantity

Notes

Infanrix hexa  

2, 4, 6 months

3 doses

How many infants attend monthly?

–

Prevenar-13
National Immunisation Program – Pneumococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020 – Clinical advice for vaccination providers		 2, 4, 12 months 

 3 doses
 How many infants/children attend monthly?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons from 50 years 1 dose  How many eligible persons attend monthly?   National Immunisation Program – Pneumococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020 – Clinical decision tree for vaccination providers 
Non-indigenous persons from 70 years

 1 dose for healthy adults  How many eligible persons attend monthly?  
At-risk  See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook     
Rotarix  2, 4 months  2 doses  How many infants attend monthly?   
Bexsero
National Immunisation Program – Meningococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020 – Clinical advice for vaccination providers
 
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants/children only at 2, 4, 12 months
 3 doses

 		 How many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander infants/children attend monthly  Bexsero can be ordered by providers that do not identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service, if they have identified eligible patients 
At-risk  See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook      
MMR II/Priorix   12 months 1 dose   How many 12-month-old children attend monthly?    
Nimenrix    12 months 


 1 dose 


 		 How many 12-month-old children attend monthly?  
 Secondary school program in Year 10 and catch-up 15-19 years of age 1 dose     How many eligible adolescents attend monthly?   Up to 5 doses of each school program vaccine can be ordered. If you need more, contact the department  
At-risk   See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook       
ActHIB   18 months   1 dose      
At-risk   See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook       
Priorix-Tetra/ProQuad   18 months   1 dose   How many 18-month-old children attend monthly?    
Infanrix/Tripacel   18 months   1 dose   How many 18-month-old children attend monthly?    
Infanrix-IPV/Quadracel   4 years  1 dose   How many 4-year-old children attend monthly?    
Gardasil 9  Secondary school program in Year 7  2 doses 

3 doses if 15 years of age and over 

3 doses if the child is immunocompromise
 
 		 How many eligible adolescents attend monthly?  Up to 5 doses of each school program vaccine can be ordered. If you need more, contact the department

Gardasil®9–Clinical advice for GPs fact sheet
 
 
Pneumovax 23
National Immunisation Program – Pneumococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020 – Clinical advice for vaccination providers  		 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander from 50 years  Pneumovax 23 x 2 doses in a lifetime  How many eligible persons attend monthly?  National Immunisation Program – Pneumococcal vaccination schedule from 1 July 2020 – Clinical decision tree for vaccination providers 


 
At-risk  See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook      -
Boostrix/Adacel  Secondary school program in Year 7  1 dose  How many eligible adolescents attend monthly?  Up to 5 doses of each school program vaccine can be ordered. If you need more, contact the department 
Pregnant women (from 20 weeks gestation)  1 dose  How many pregnant women (from 20 weeks gestation) attend monthly?  
Zostavax  70 years  1 dose  How many eligible persons attend monthly?
 Zostavax GP Decision Aid
At-risk  See at-risk recommendations in The Australian Immunisation Handbook       -
Engerix-B  At-risk 
See Immunisation schedule Victoria and vaccine eligibility criteria 
    
M-M-RII
(State program)		 At-risk 
See Immunisation schedule Victoria and vaccine eligibility criteria  		    
Boostrix/Adacel
(State program)		 Partner whooping cough vaccination program
 1 dose  How many partners of pregnant women in the third trimester of    
Influenza   From 6 months of age    See Seasonal influenza vaccine 
    

Vaccines - receiving

Vaccines must be received by practice staff who are educated in cold chain management. Follow these steps:

  1. Sign the delivery docket and return it to the courier.
  2. Check if the TagAlert® screen says ‘OK’. If black boxes appear on the screen, complete the attached form and email or fax it to Onelink as soon as possible. Isolate the vaccines in the fridge while waiting for advice.
  3. If the TagAlert® screen says ‘OK’, promptly unpack the vaccines into the vaccine fridge.
  4. Check that the vaccine consignment matches the delivery invoice. 
  5. Contact Onelink as soon as possible if there is a discrepancy.
  6. Minimise the time that the vaccine fridge door is open.
  7. Rotate vaccines so that the stock with earlier expiry is used first.
  8. Do not remove vaccines from their packets – this protects them from light and temperature fluctuation.

Vaccines - order forms

A full list of government supplied vaccines, Rabies and Immunoglobulin vaccines order forms are available for download.

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