Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) 011-10000000

Individuals can be registered on the AIR when:

• they enrol for Medicare
• immunisation data is recorded by a recognised vaccination provider
• they apply for an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)

Note: an IHI is a unique number used to identify an individual for health care purposes.

Changes to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 require mandatory reporting of the following vaccines by vaccination providers to the AIR:

• COVID-19 vaccines from 20 February 2021
• Influenza vaccines from 1 March 2021
• National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines from 1 July 2021
• Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) vaccines from 21 December 2022

See the References page for links to legislation.

The AIR vaccination providers can report:

• vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program (NIP)
• vaccines given while overseas (individuals can take evidence of vaccines received overseas to their vaccination provider in Australia to update the AIR. The evidence must be translated into English)
• vaccines given through school programmes
• COVID-19 vaccines (approved for use in Australia)
• other vaccines including flu and travel vaccines (e.g. yellow fever)

Note: only vaccines administered on or after 1 January 1996 are recorded on the AIR.

See Navigate Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) system for a list of standard and non-standard vaccines.

The Resources page contains links to AIR information on the Services Australia website and a table of AIR data transmission methods. It also contains a link to the NIP Schedule and Australian Immunisation Handbook on the Department of Health and Aged Care's website.

An AIR record:

• enables recognised vaccination providers, individuals and parents/guardians (of children under 14 years of age) to check the immunisation status of an individual, regardless of where they have been immunised
• forms the basis of an immunisation history statement for individuals and parents/guardians of children under 14 years of age
• provides information about the immunisation status for the assessment of some family assistance payments

National due and overdue rules are used to determine the immunisation status for an individual.

Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook rules for information about:

• when vaccines are considered due or overdue
• recommended intervals between doses
• minimum age requirements

The Resources page contains links to AIR information on the Services Australia website including national due and overdue rules for immunisation and the Australian Immunisation Handbook on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

The immunisation status of individuals up to 20 years of age links to eligibility for some family assistance payments. The A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999 ensure that all Family Tax Benefit Part A families, regardless of income, are subject to the same immunisation requirements.

Centrelink uses the immunisation status to determine if a child has satisfied immunisation requirements. Note: this immunisation status is provided to Centrelink, matching with the AIR using the child’s Medicare card number and/or other details.