This article applies to those health service organisations who operate as vaccination providers.
Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Japanese Encephalitis Virus) Rules 2022 (Cth)
On 21 December 2022, the Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Japanese Encephalitis Virus) Rules 2022 (Cth) (the Amending Rules) amended the Australian Immunisation Register Rule 2015 (Cth) (the Rule).
New requirement to report Japanese encephalitis virus vaccinations to the Australian Immunisation Register
Health service organisations will be aware that section 10A of the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 (Cth) (the Act) requires recognised vaccination providers (being general practitioners, or an individual or body endorsed to administer vaccines in Australia (if the endorsement is for purposes that include the purposes of the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and is by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory), to report the administration of certain vaccinations to the AIR. Such vaccinations include for example COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.
In March 2022, Australia’s Acting Chief Medical Officer declared Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance in recognition of the potential impact on Australia. In light of the fact that JEV can be prevented by vaccination, and to ensure the AIR contains a complete and accurate dataset of vaccination information to better inform program delivery and to respond to disease outbreaks, it is now a requirement to report the administration of a relevant vaccination for JEV to the AIR.
In line with other vaccinations such as vaccinations for COVID-19 and influenza, the administration of vaccinations for JEV must be reported to the AIR within (where it is reasonably practicable to do so), 24 hours after the relevant vaccination is administered, or otherwise, 10 business days after the relevant vaccination is administered.
Similarly, as with COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, under section 10A of the Act, a vaccination provider is not required to comply with this new reporting requirement regarding the administration of vaccinations for JEV where the provider reasonably believes that to do so is likely to pose a risk to the health or safety of an individual. However, we remind health service organisations that any person who fails to comply with the reporting obligations under existing section 10A of the Act may be liable to a civil penalty of 30 penalty units (currently $8250.00).
Conclusion
Those organisations operating as vaccination providers should ensure their recognised vaccination providers are made aware of the new mandatory notification requirement relating to the administration of a relevant vaccination for Japanese encephalitis virus on or after 21 December 2022. To that end, organisations should update their immunisation policies and procedures to reflect this new reporting requirement.
