Finding Vaccination Records In Australia: Quick And Easy Steps

how to find my vaccination records australia

Vaccination records are important for several reasons, including specific jobs, travel, or school registration. In Australia, there are several ways to find your vaccination records. The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a federal government-operated service that can be used to find the immunisation status of people born after 1996. You can also contact your local council for records of any school-based vaccines given. If you were vaccinated by a doctor or a local council, you can contact the service to see if they still hold your records. Additionally, you can request a copy of your immunisation history statement or COVID-19 digital certificate through Medicare or the Individual Healthcare Identifier service on myGov.

Characteristics Values
Who maintains vaccination records in Australia? Doctors, public health clinics, vaccination providers, and state health departments.
How to access vaccination records? Contact the vaccination provider, doctor's office, or health clinic. Request records from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) or use Medicare or the Individual Healthcare Identifier service through myGov.
What information is included in vaccination records? Vaccination history, including dates, number of doses, vaccine brand, and type (COVID-19 or other).
Are vaccination records private? Vaccination records contain sensitive private information. The Australian Privacy Act and health records laws govern the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of vaccination information.
Can employers request proof of vaccination? Yes, employers commonly collect and store employee vaccination data. However, they must adhere to the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) to protect employee information from misuse, interference, and unauthorised disclosure.

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Check with your doctor or pharmacist

If you are unable to locate your vaccination records, it is advisable to check with your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to provide you with the necessary information or guide you on how to obtain your records. Here are some reasons why checking with your doctor or pharmacist is a good idea:

  • Doctor's Records: Vaccination records are typically maintained at the doctor's office, but only for a limited number of years. If you received your vaccinations from a doctor, they may still have your records on file. It is worth contacting them to inquire about your vaccination history.
  • Immunization Registry: Some doctors and pharmacists participate in immunization registries. If your vaccine provider is part of such a registry, they can document your vaccines there, providing an additional source of record-keeping.
  • Blood Tests: In the absence of written records, doctors can sometimes perform blood tests to check your immunity against certain diseases. For example, a blood test can determine immunity against chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, or hepatitis B. This can help inform decisions about whether immunisation is necessary.
  • Vaccine Recommendations: Your doctor or pharmacist can provide guidance on recommended vaccines based on your health, age, lifestyle, and occupation, ensuring you stay up to date with necessary immunisations.
  • Record-Keeping Advice: Your healthcare provider can offer advice on how to maintain accurate and up-to-date vaccination records. They may recommend bringing an immunisation record form to health visits and having your vaccine provider sign and date it for each vaccine received.

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Request a copy from the Australian Immunisation Register

The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is a national register that records all vaccines given to people of all ages in Australia. You can request an Immunisation History Statement from the AIR, which will list all the vaccinations you have received.

To request a copy of your Immunisation History Statement, you can:

  • Contact your general practitioner or vaccination provider and ask them to print a copy for you.
  • Access your statement online through your Medicare account or the Individual Healthcare Identifier service on myGov. You can also use the Express Plus Medicare mobile app to save and email the statement.
  • Call the AIR enquiries line to request a copy. It can take up to 10 business days to receive your statement in the post.

If you are unable to obtain proof of your vaccinations online or through your vaccination provider, you can contact the Australian Immunisation Register and request that your statement be mailed to you. This may take up to 14 days to arrive.

It is important to note that due to privacy laws, anyone aged 14 years or older must request their own statement. However, young people aged 14 and above can give Services Australia permission for their parents to access their immunisation history statement.

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Use Medicare or the Individual Healthcare Identifier service

If you are enrolled in Medicare, you can use your Medicare online account to get proof of your vaccinations. Here's how to get your vaccination records using Medicare:

  • Sign in to your myGov account.
  • Go to "Proof of vaccinations" and select "View Proof".
  • Select "View history".
  • Follow the prompts to download a PDF copy of your vaccination record to your device.
  • You may have the option to add the proof to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet if you're using a mobile device.

If you don't have a myGov account, you can create one on the myGov website. To link your Medicare account to your myGov account, you will need to enter your Medicare card number (your agency reference number) and your Individual Reference Number. This is an 11-digit number that appears next to your name on your card.

If you are not eligible for Medicare, you can still get proof of your vaccinations using the Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) service through myGov. Here's how:

  • Sign in to your myGov account.
  • Select "Individual Health Identifiers service".
  • Select "Proof of vaccinations", then "View proof".
  • Select your name, then "View history".
  • Select the vaccination record document you need.
  • Follow the prompts and download a copy of the PDF to your device.
  • You may have the option to add the proof to your Apple Wallet or Google Wallet if you're using a mobile device.

If you don't have a myGov account, you can create one on the myGov website. To use the IHI service, you will need an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI). If you don't have one, you can find out how to get one on the Services Australia website.

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Check your state's Immunisation Information System

In Australia, there is no national organisation that maintains vaccination records. However, some states have Immunisation Information Systems that include adult vaccines.

South Australia

The Government of South Australia has an Immunisation Records and Inventory System (IRIS) that is available for state and local government-operated immunisation services. IRIS is owned, supported, and maintained by the Department for Health and Wellbeing.

Other States

If you are not based in South Australia, you can try the following methods to find your vaccination records:

  • Contact your doctor or pharmacist for an immunisation record form. Bring this form with you to health visits and ask your vaccine provider to sign and date it for each vaccine you receive.
  • Ask your parents or other caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunisations.
  • Look through baby books or other saved documents from your childhood.
  • Check with your high school and/or college health services for dates of any immunisations.

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Contact your vaccination provider

If you are unable to locate your vaccination records or need more information, you can contact your vaccination provider or immunisation service directly. They will be able to provide you with a copy of your records or direct you to the appropriate resources.

To find the contact information for your vaccination provider, you can try the following methods:

Check your vaccination certificate or card: If you have a physical or digital copy

Frequently asked questions

You can find your vaccination records through the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) if you were born after 1996. If you are unable to obtain your proof of vaccination online, you can contact your vaccination provider to print your immunisation history statement. You can also request that the Australian Immunisation Register mail you a copy of your statement, which could take up to 14 days to arrive.

You can access your COVID-19 vaccination records through Medicare or the Individual Healthcare Identifier service via myGov. You will be able to see your digital certificate once you have received all required doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

If you are not eligible for Medicare, you can obtain proof of your vaccination records using the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service (IHI service) through myGov.

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