Vaccination and immunisation information

We expect all practitioners to participate in efforts to promote the health of communities and meet obligations with respect to disease prevention including vaccination, health screening and the reporting of notifiable diseases (as set out in the National Boards' codes of conduct or equivalent).

We strongly encourage all registered health practitioners to be immunised against relevant communicable diseases, unless medically contraindicated. However, it is your decision whether to be vaccinated or not. You should assess the risk and relevance of vaccination, based on your own circumstances including your area of practice, and consider how not being vaccinated may affect public safety.

If you choose not to be vaccinated, you should consider how you will protect your patients and the public from the risk of communicable diseases. You should also ensure that you are complying with relevant public health and employment requirements.

Vaccination against relevant communicable diseases is not a requirement for registration with your profession’s National Board.

However, employers, public health agencies and education providers may establish mandatory vaccination requirements that apply to registered health practitioners and students. Not complying with relevant public health and/or employment requirements may have consequences on your entitlement to practise and/or your employment (please refer to any relevant information from public health departments and employers).

Good practice includes that you are immunised against any relevant communicable diseases and you understand and apply the principles of public health (as set out in the National Boards' codes of conduct or equivalent).

When concerns about a practitioner are raised with Ahpra and the National Boards, we assess whether there is a likelihood of risk to the public that needs to be managed by regulatory action. We review any public health orders issued by government, or employer requirements, in effect at the time and how they apply to practitioners, including any potential exemptions to vaccination or immunisation such as being medically contraindicated.

Read more about how we manage concerns and assess risk.

You are responsible for promoting the health of the community through infection and disease prevention and control, education and, where relevant, screening. As set out in the National Boards’ codes of conduct or their equivalent, good practice includes that you:

• understand and apply the principles of public health, including health education, health promotion, infection and disease prevention and control, and health screening, and use the best available evidence in making practice decisions
• participate in efforts to promote the health of the community, including through effective infection prevention and control measures and appropriate use of antimicrobial medication to minimise resistance, and
• be aware of your obligations in disease prevention, including screening and reporting notifiable diseases.

If you have an objection due to personal beliefs, values or moral concerns about receiving, authorising, prescribing or administering vaccinations, you are expected to ensure that your objection does not deny patients access to healthcare and that patients are referred to other health practitioners.

Practitioners should respectfully inform their patients (where relevant to their care), employer(s) and other relevant colleagues of their objection and ensure patients have alternative care options (e.g. by facilitating a referral).

As set out in the National Boards' codes of conduct or their equivalent, you should inform your patients (where relevant to their care), your employer(s) and other relevant colleagues of your objection. You should also make sure your patients have alternative care options (e.g. by facilitating a referral).

Only registered health practitioners who are trained, educated and competent in all aspects of vaccine management and administration and who are authorised under relevant state and territory drugs and poisons legislation (medicines legislation) can administer vaccinations.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council provides clinical guidance for health professionals on safe and effective use of vaccines.

Registered health practitioners are entrusted to use their expertise and influence to protect and advance the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.

If providing information about vaccination or immunisation, you are expected to use the best available evidence and participate in efforts to promote the health of communities. This expectation applies regardless of the context in which you provide the information (e.g. in clinical practice, academic settings, public or private forums, social media – including both private and professional accounts – or advertising).¹

You should be aware of the rules under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 that apply to advertising medicines to the public, including through social media. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has published guidance about how to advertise vaccination services and vaccines.

If providing information on social media about vaccination or immunisation, you are expected to use the best available evidence and participate in efforts to promote the health of communities.

National Boards have published social media guidance to help registered health practitioners understand and meet their obligations when using social media.

Registered health practitioners are entrusted to use their expertise and influence to protect and advance the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.²

You can advertise information about vaccination or immunisation if you comply with the National Boards’ Guidelines for advertising a regulated health service (the guidelines). Our guidelines explain the obligations under the National Law that apply to any person or business advertising a regulated health service and set out:

• who is defined as an advertiser
• what is considered advertising, and
• how an advertiser can meet their legal obligations when advertising.

It is an offence under the National Law to advertise a regulated health service (including via social media) in a way that is false, misleading or deceptive. Visit the Advertising hub to find our guidelines and resources to support your compliance with advertising obligations.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has also published guidance on advertising for health services that include therapeutic goods.