The NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 (clause 48A) authorises appropriately trained pharmacists in NSW to administer the following vaccines to eligible patients.

Vaccine eligibility

Vaccine nameAbbreviated/alternate name Limitations of use Patient age and funding
SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) vaccine In accordance with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Product Information and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations 5 years and over funded by the Commonwealth separate to the NIP
Triple antigen vaccine Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis combination dTpa
  • 12 to 19 years NIP funded
  • Pregnant women NIP funded
  • 20 years and over private funded
Hepatitis A vaccine Hep A
  • 5 years and over private funded
  • State funded for post exposure
Hepatitis B vaccineHep B5 years and over State (refer to eligibility) and Private funded
Human papillomavirus vaccineHPV
  • 12 to 25 years NIP funded
  • 26 years and over private funded
Influenza and coryza vaccine ‘Influenza vaccine’
  • 5 years and over NIP at-risk eligibility
  • 5 years and over private funded
Japanese encephalitis vaccineMandatory completion of the additional training module: Japanese encephalitis - A learning resource for immunisation providers hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia or the Pharmacy Guild of Australia

5 years and over Commonwealth, State and Private.

Note: this vaccine is funded by the Commonwealth separate to the NIP

Measles-mumps-rubella combination vaccineMMR12 years and over NIP and State funded
Meningococcal vaccine (ACWY only) (quadrivalent) conjugate vaccineMenACWY
  • 15 to 19 years NIP
  • 20 years and over private funded
Poliomyelitis vaccine
  • 5 to 19 years NIP funded
  • 20 years and over private funded

Typhoid vaccine

Intramuscular injection (IMI) formulation only 5 years and over private funded
Zoster vaccine Recombinant varicella zoster virus glycoprotein e antigen vaccineShringrix vaccine brand only50 years and over private funded

A registered pharmacist immuniser initiating and administering vaccines under his/her own authority must comply with the three components of clause 48A of the NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation 2008 which prescribes rules for:

  • completing an accredited vaccination training course,
  • recording each vaccination in accordance with the regulation requirements, and
  • conducting vaccinations under the NSW Pharmacist Vaccination Standards

General training

The pharmacist immuniser must complete a training course that complies with the Australian Pharmacy Council 'Standards for the Accreditation of Programs to Support Pharmacist Administration of Vaccines' (current version).

The training course must be conducted by an Australian Pharmacy Council accredited pharmacy education program provider. The pharmacist immuniser must hold a certificate confirming competency to vaccinate following completion of an accredited training program for all authorised vaccines that they intend to administer.

The pharmacist immuniser must hold a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate issued within the last 12 months. If the pharmacist is administering vaccines to people aged less than 14 years of age, the CPR certificate must include paediatric CPR training.

To maintain authority to immunise, the pharmacist immuniser must annually review best practice policy for immunisation and ensure their competence for each vaccine they administer. This maybe, but is not limited to, attendance at seminars on current practices, or formal immunisation update courses.

An intern pharmacist who holds a certificate confirming competency to vaccinate following completion of an accredited training program for all vaccines they intend to administer, is only able to administer specified vaccines under the direct supervision of a pharmacist immuniser who holds certification to vaccinate for the relevant vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine training

For the purpose of supply and administration of any COVID-19 vaccine, a pharmacist immuniser, in addition to the above requirements, must also successfully complete:

  • core COVID-19 training modules from the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing
  • to administer a specific COVID-19 vaccine, the relevant vaccine specific additional COVID-19 training modules from the COVID-19 Vaccination Training Program developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care in partnership with the Australian College of Nursing for all vaccines that the pharmacist immuniser is administering.

The pharmacist immuniser must review all relevant training modules when notification of updates are received.

Japanese encephalitis vaccine training

For the purposes of supply and administration of any Japanese encephalitis vaccine, a pharmacist immuniser, in addition to the above requirements, must also successfully complete the Japanese encephalitis - A learning resource for immunisation providers hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia or the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

Additional information on the COVID-19 vaccination program for pharmacist immunisers is available on COVID-19 vaccination: information for community pharmacists.

Further information

For further information:

  • on the record keeping requirements for pharmacists administering vaccines contact the Duty Pharmaceutical Officer at the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Unit, NSW Ministry of Health by telephone on (02) 9391 9944 or email MOH-PharmaceuticalServices@health.nsw.gov.au
  • on the Pharmacist Vaccination Standards email the Immunisation Unit, NSW Ministry of Health on MOH-vaccreports@health.nsw.gov.au

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Current as at: Monday 17 April 2023
Contact page owner: Immunisation