Our work

Objective, expert evidence and advice to inform policy and planning for immunisation services in Australia and our region

Our work

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander immunisation

NCIRS plays an active role in promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples health through a combination of activities.

Australian Immunisation Handbook

The Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice. NCIRS plays a critical role in the development of the Handbook.

AusVaxSafety

AusVaxSafety is a national, collaborative active vaccine safety surveillance initiative led by NCIRS.

Clinical research

NCIRS leads, coordinates and participates in vaccine-related clinical research, in collaboration with other research institutions in Australia. Find out more.

COSSI

COSSI is a collective of people who work collaboratively to improve vaccine acceptance and uptake by understanding barriers and enablers of immunisation. Find out more.

COVID-19

NCIRS is undertaking multiple research projects and tracking the development of vaccine to support response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disease surveillance and epidemiology

NCIRS undertakes surveillance and epidemiological analysis of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) using de-identified national datasets of VPD notifications, hospitalisations and deaths.

Education and training

NCIRS conducts varied educational and professional development programs for students, advanced trainees and immunisation professionals more broadly. These educational programs and activities include:

New South Wales Immunisation Specialist Service (NSWISS)

NSWISS, established by NCIRS in collaboration with NSW Health, provides specialised immunisation care and advice to clinicians and families.

Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance (PAEDS)

NCIRS coordinates the PAEDS network which conducts active, hospital-based surveillance of serious childhood conditions, particularly vaccine preventable diseases and adverse events following immunisation.

PHN Immunisation Support program

NCIRS, together with NPS MedicineWise, leads the development and implementation of the Primary Health Network (PHN) Immunisation Support Program.

Population Health

NCIRS analyses large population health datasets to inform national vaccine policy development and immunisation program evaluation.

Program evaluation

NCIRS conducts evaluation of vaccines used in the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and in state and territory programs.

Regional and global collaborations

NCIRS aims to expand its role in immunisation to have a greater impact on disease prevention in the community, both within Australia and internationally.

Research to inform policy

NCIRS provides scientific research support to the Australian Government Department of Health and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), particularly for the development and implementation of national immunisation policies.

Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation

SKAI — Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation — is a suite of vaccination communication support tools.

Serosurveillance

NCIRS coordinates and conducts national serosurveillance in the Australian population.

Social science in immunisation

At NCIRS, we use social science methods and approaches to understand vaccination behaviour and decision making.

Vaccine coverage

NCIRS plays a preeminent role in the analysis and reporting of data from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and the use of these data for research, surveillance and program evaluation.