Information for Immunisation Providers
Benefits of the ACIR
The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR):
- provides reports, upon request, to help immunisation providers identify children who are due or overdue for immunisation
- provides an information payment to immunisation providers who administer and notify the ACIR of a vaccination which completes one of the aged-based immunisation schedules funded under the National Immunisation Program
- helps to identify areas with low immunisation levels at a national, State/Territory and local level
- helps to monitor disease outbreaks.
Provider registration
Medical practitioners are automatically recognised as immunisation providers. When sending information to the ACIR, they should supply their Medicare provider number for the location where the vaccination is performed.
Other immunisation providers, such as community health clinics, need to complete a registration form and send it to their State or Territory health department for authorisation. When the authorised form is received by Medicare Australia, a unique identification number is allocated to identify the ancillary immunisation provider.
How to send information to the ACIR
When a vaccination is given to a child, details should be sent promptly to Medicare Australia to be included on the ACIR. Information can be sent to the ACIR using:
- Medicare Australia online claiming - a software application that allows the transmission of ACIR data via the immunisation provider's desktop software. For more information about Medicare Australia online claiming, contact 1800 700 199.
- The internet - approved immunisation providers can send immunisation details using the record encounter or IDI upload facilites through the ACIR secure area within Medicare Australia's website. To request access to the ACIR secure site, click on the link below and complete the request access form online.
- Manually - by completing either an Immunisation encounter form or an Immunisation history form and sending it to Medicare Australia. Manual forms can be requested by clicking on the link below and completing the stationery order form.
Immunisation providers who currently send data to the ACIR via their State or Territory health department should continue to do so.
Immunisation providers are encouraged to send information to the ACIR each week. Delays in submitting data can result in incomplete Immunisation History Statements being sent to parents, and the loss of a family's eligibility for the Child Care Benefit and Maternity Immunisation Allowance.
Immunisation payments
An information (notification) payment of up to $6 is made to immunisation providers who administer and notify the ACIR of a vaccination that completes one of the age-based immunisation schedules funded under the National Immunisation Program.
Payment frequency
Information payments to providers are made by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) at the end of each calendar month. General practitioners need to complete a form advising Medicare Australia of their bank account or credit union details to receive payment. Other ancillary providers need to supply these details when they register as an immunisation provider with the ACIR.
Immunisation providers receive a Statement of Payment listing the payments made for the information received. The statement also includes the details of any services where the ACIR requires additional information.
Sending vaccination details
When sending vaccination information to the ACIR, immunisation providers must supply the child's Medicare card number and reference number, as well as the child's name and date of birth. If the child is not enrolled in Medicare, immunisation providers must supply the child's full name, date of birth, gender and address so that an accurate record can be created on the ACIR.
To ensure the accuracy of the ACIR's data, it is important to remind parents to notify Medicare Australia of any change to their address.
Deceased children
The ACIR takes all possible care to avoid adding to the distress of bereaved parents. If immunisation providers are aware of the death of a child, they can inform the ACIR by sending the details on their practice stationery or by contacting the ACIR on 1800 653 809.
Accessing ACIR information
Authorised immunisation providers can access the immunisation history of an individual child through the ACIR secure area of Medicare Australia's internet site. A range of immunisation reports can also be accessed from this site. If consent has been given by the child's parent/guardian, immunisation providers can also contact the ACIR on 1800 653 809 to obtain a child's immunisation details over the phone.
More information
Phone: 1800 653 809
Email: acir@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Last updated: 16 July, 2008